Yesterday morning, Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a strong Category 3 hurricane near Keaton Beach in Florida’s Big Bend, leaving considerable damage and devastation in its wake.
That’s the bad news.
But here’s the good news: Even since before this storm intensified, ALAN has been hearing from numerous people like you who are ready to help, and who continue to ask, “What can we do?”
We’ll have specific answers to that question soon, because we’re working closely with our non-profit partners on the ground to determine what is needed. And as their requests for donated logistics assistance begin to arrive, we’ll share them via our Disaster Micro-Site. So please plan to visit it often in the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, there are still many ways all of us can put our shoulders to the wheel and begin to help Hurricane Idalia’s survivors, which is why I’d like to share four helpful, and heartfelt, pieces of advice.
As always, thanks for being part of the ALAN family. We know it’s been a massively demanding, disaster-filled year already – and that compassion fatigue may be starting to set in. But we are always thankful for the many ways you continue to show up and help us use a little logistics to do a lot of good.
What Can We Do? Four Practical Suggestions For How We Can All HELP After A Disaster
H ead to ALAN’s website and fill out a pre-offer to donate your logistics services, equipment, and expertise. It really does help us to know who we can reach out to when we have unmet needs. (And while you’re there, please check out our growing list of other active disaster requests. We have more than 25 open at the moment – including many for the recent Maui fires – and we could really use your assistance.)
E xpress yourself. When disasters hit, it really helps non-profits like ours to hear from people who know the impacted area like the back of their hand – and who have been on the ground operating supply chains there day in and day out. You know what’s most useful to you as you run your business in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. So feel free to tell us what can most help you get your business operations in those areas restored more quickly.
L eave the product procurement to the humanitarian groups. Although it’s tempting to collect and send items to a disaster or to self-deploy with a truckload of products, these well intentioned efforts could impede the organized rescue and response efforts that are under way. Make a cash donation instead so that non-profit organizations can buy what they need, when and where they need it.
P repare for the next emergency now. We’re just at the start of what is usually the busiest part of hurricane season. In light of that, take some time to get more prepared for the next big storm in some form or fashion. Go to Ready.gov and share some of its resources and tools with your employees. Make a disaster kit. Or hold a safety drill. Better yet, do all of the above – because we need you to be strong enough to withstand whatever disaster is next, and we want you around!
Sincerely,
The ALAN Team
P.S. ALAN relies on generous donations from individuals and businesses. Please DONATE NOW to ensure we’re able to support the communities affected by Idalia.
