In response to Superstorm Sandy, the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) is supporting Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and emergency management agencies across the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern U.S. ALAN is engaging private industry and supply-chain companies to help fulfill needs of these disaster relief organizations.
Relief agencies are posting urgent needs on the ALAN portal. These include requests for food, transportation, water, and warehouse space. Businesses seeking to provide help can log onto the portal, view posted requests, and make offers of support.
So far, ALAN was able to secure:
∙ A van and driver provided by CEVA Logistics to transport consumable medical supplies in New York City for the New York Hospital Association;
∙ Transportation provided by UPS for cleanup kits from Louisiana and Utah to the Bronx, NY for the United Methodist Committee on Relief;
∙ Situational awareness to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on fuel, transportation impacts, and needs in the most severely affected areas;
∙ Sources for high-capacity pumps to counteract severe flooding in New York and New Jersey;
∙ Options for a major food donation to support the VOAD community;
∙ A $10,000 grant from Food Shippers of America to send logistics volunteers to work with relief groups in New York and New Jersey.
ALAN president Jock Menzies notes, “It is gratifying to see the ‘whole community’ relationships between the business, nonprofit, and government emergency response communities paying dividends for those in such dire circumstances.”
ALAN continues to post daily reports, including information on how individuals and businesses can obtain support, and the state of roadways and electrical service state-to-state. Log on here for the latest reports.
