Logistics community aids post-tornado relief efforts

The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) is stepping up efforts to mobilize the logistics community in the wake of recent tornado and flood damage in the Southeast, the organization said this week.

Lakeland, Fla.-based ALAN is asking the logistics community to donate transportation, warehouse space, services and equipment as needed for post-tornado and flood assistance in hard-hit communities throughout Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. ALAN matches requests with carriers via its disaster micro-site and asks carriers, warehousing providers, 3PLs, and other logistics organizations to consider making in-kind donations via its volunteer database.

ALAN's Executive Director Kathy Fulton emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts through the network or other charitable organizations, asking logistics professionals to "resist the temptation to send unsolicited products, trucks, or personnel directly to impacted areas."

"Many of these well-intended charitable efforts actually get in the way of what relief organizations are already there to do," Fulton said in a prepared statement. "So, more often than not, the best way that our industry can help is by responding to specific requests or making a cash donation to a non-profit disaster relief organization that aligns with their organization's mission and values."  

ALAN was founded in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Its mission is to provide free logistics assistance to disaster relief organizations before, during and after catastrophic events.