Logistics Professionals Needed for Oklahoma Disaster Relief

June 1, 2013
American Logistics Aid Network is sponsoring efforts to provide money, material handling equipment and transportation for food distribution.

Estimates indicate that as many as 40,000 people need emergency food assistance, in addition to those already experiencing food insecurity as a result of the Oklahoma tornado disaster. American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) is working with Feeding America (FA) to deliver food and essential supplies for Oklahoma Tornado relief efforts.

In support of those efforts, ALAN received $10,000 from Food Shippers of America (FSA). Half of this will be applied for immediate needs and the other half will go toward ongoing relief efforts over the coming weeks and months. FA has already coordinated the delivery of more than 70 semi-trailer truckloads of food (2 million pounds) as a supplement to the relief supplies collected locally by the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The food bank set up a local distribution center in Moore to get supplies to the community right away. Working with the food bank, ALAN is sponsoring material handling equipment and transportation for food distribution.

“ALAN is helping coordinate a quick response in the aftermath of the Moore storms and we’ll continue to work in the weeks and months ahead to help the community rebuild,” said Kathy Fulton, director of operations for ALAN.

“The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s logistics expertise and unique capabilities for safely warehousing and transporting food and grocery items has been an essential part of the response to recent storms,” said Patrick Crawford, director of disaster services for Feeding America, “so we very much appreciate ALAN and FSA sponsoring forklifts to augment logistics capacity as a part of community-based relief efforts.”

Those wishing to make a financial contribution to an established non-profit, visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) website.

As rebuilding efforts move forward, the city and relief organizations will detail specific needs for goods and services dedicated to long-term community recovery. Companies that want to help with rebuilding can view those needs at ALAN’s website or pledge support in reserve.