ALAN responds to central US tornadoes

Following several deadly tornadoes across the central United States, the American Logistics Aid Network has begun coordinating support services offered by warehousing and transportation companies.

ALAN posted the following notification on its website:

We are monitoring the severe weather which spawned several tornadoes across the central US. Life safety activities are ongoing and at this time ALAN is contacting our counterparts in the affected areas to identify any logistics related needs.

We anticipate there will be needs for warehousing and transportation in the near future. To offer support, please click on How to Help, above, or email Kathy Fulton, Interim President and Director of Operations at [email protected], or Patrick Rofe, Director of Development and Corporate Relations at [email protected].

To ensure the best results for storm victims, please remember:

Don’t self-deploy: Avoid disaster areas until volunteers are requested. Emergency response and life safety crews need access to open road to conduct their life saving activities. Many families have been displaced by these storms and housing and other services will be directed to support their needs first.

Connect before you collect: 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. Requested items will be posted here.

Work through ALAN: We partner with voluntary organizations, communities, and emergency response agencies on the ground to provide an organized response. We will be happy to share your offers of support with our partners to see if they match local needs.

Cash is best: By far, monetary donations are the most useful help you can give. They 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.

Additional information can be found on our Twitter and Facebook feeds.