Remember that “whole community of logisticians and responders there to help” we mentioned, above? The “name” that should be on every logistician’s lips – in addition to Harvey, Irma and Jose – is “ALAN” … The American Logistics Aid Network (http://alanaid.org). Founded in 2005, ALAN is a 501(c)(3) that serves as a clearing house/’expediter’/portal for connecting businesses and organizations that want to provide emergency relief goods and support to the areas needing it in the US.
Founded by several professional and trade associations that came together after Hurricane Katrina to help provide humanitarian relief, ALAN is composed of hundreds of supply-chain businesses that stand poised to respond in the event of disasters. Experts in transportation, warehousing, cold storage, and distribution, ALAN helps locate and move goods from suppliers to affected communities rapidly and efficiently.
Working in tandem with National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVODS) – including the American Red Cross, Feeding America, and The Salvation Army – as well as state and federal emergency agencies (e.g., FEMA), ALAN’s web portal serves as a clearinghouse for essential supplies, goods, and services during crisis events. Relief organizations post urgent needs on the portal and ALAN’s participating companies view the requests and respond to those that match their capabilities. Instead of individuals or organizations sending random goods and supplies that could overwhelm disaster recovery efforts, ALAN businesses respond to specific requests for help from relief responders and agencies on the ground. In addition, as a non-profit organization financial support from individuals, corporations, and foundations can be made at any time – either through their secure website or by calling them directly.
Having ‘introduced’ you to ALAN, SOLE – like many other of the professional logistics associations since the onslaught of Hurricane Harvey – would like to encourage its members, friends, and companies to consider working through ALAN. And, don’t forget that (as Dr. Wyman pointed out in the last SOLEtter) more often than not “cash is best.” Cash contributions allow affected communities to purchase exactly what they need, when they need it most; they permit local sourcing of supplies, which stimulates the economy and keeps tax revenues at home; and they help survivors to take control of their own recovery. And, as it relates to Hurricane Harvey (or Irma or Jose), before you donate goods or services, make sure that there is a need – as well as capacity and a specific recipient – for your donation on the other end. Your good intentions can overburden local supply chains if affected communities are not prepared for the arrival of your goods or services.
It looks like it’s going to be a loooooong, wet (or fiery, as the case currently is) summer (and fall). But working smartly together (like all good teams), we logisticians will make a difference.