ALAN to speed disaster relief with targeted supply chain outreach

The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) announced today an important advancement in the organization’s ability to support disaster relief. The non-profit is launching a new capabilities mapping tool that will enable ALAN to geographically target companies with the potential to provide necessary resources during disasters. The project is funded by grants from The UPS Foundation and the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program, Project on Supply Chain Resilience.

The capabilities mapping tool is a geo-coding tool that will be populated with data on the member companies from ALAN’s 21 association partners. Companies will be categorized according to their key product or service offerings and geographic footprint. These maps will show the location of resources meeting the needs identified through the National Donations Management Network. This will enable ALAN to identify the organizations best able to meet a specific disaster need (i.e. logistics support, water, food, pharmaceuticals, essential medical care, and shelter) and then reach out to them personally. The system was recently successfully used for an exercise testing response to a nuclear incident with the New Hampshire Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NHVOAD). Additionally, a trial was completed for potential Red Cross needs.

“Through ALAN’s association partners, we are able to mobilize a large network of companies within the supply chain industry,” said Jock Menzies, president of ALAN. “Following a disaster, there is great need for specific items such as water, food, etc. and delivery of those items is one of the largest costs in disaster aid. Private sector logistics companies have the capacity and desire to help, especially when the disaster occurs within their region.”

The UPS Foundation is proud to be a part of this collaboration between private public partnership, ALAN, and government agencies to enhance community resilience,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. “In 2011, UPS moved more than 200 in-kind shipments to 34 countries. We transported more than 6.6 million pounds of food and relief supplies providing more than $2.7 million dollars of in-kind services.”

“ALAN’s enhanced database will improve our ability to make timely and effective use of donations from corporate partners,” said Daniel Stoecker, executive director of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD). “The non-profit disaster community relies on in-kind support, and this tool efficiently matches prospective donors with identified needs.”

“In our nuclear incident exercise, ALAN’s capabilities mapping tool proved to be a fantastic addition to our response. We’re excited to see this project taken to the next level,” said Molly Webber of Volunteer NH and NH VOAD.

About American Logistics Aid Network
American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) engages the supply chain community to support humanitarian relief efforts. ALAN makes supply chain-related donation needs visible to the logistics industry and establishes an efficient process for providing the necessary goods and services. To learn how you and your organization can become involved with ALAN to improve disaster response within your community, visit http://www.alanaid.org. Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) is a founding sponsor of ALAN and an international trade association that has represented tthe material handling, supply chain and logisitcs industry since 1945.