LAKELAND, Fla. — As Hurricane Isaias continues to intensify and approach U.S. landfall, the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) said in a media release that it is urging Gulf Coast businesses to heed local advisories and warnings – and asking logistics professionals everywhere to be ready to help.
“Isaias is expected to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane sometime Friday – with massive rainfall, a potentially life-threatening storm surge and winds as high as 110 miles per hour. As a result, we are officially mobilizing to help,” said Kathy Fulton, ALAN’s Executive Director.
Earlier this week, ALAN entered the preparedness stage of its storm activation, including working with its non-profit partners on their prepositioning activities. ALAN has also begun providing information about hurricane supply chain impacts via its Rapid Assessment, which can be accessed here
ALAN’s active response phase – which involves helping relief organizations find the donated expertise, warehousing, transportation and material handling equipment they need – will commence later this week if the storm’s path and strength and path continue as predicted. ALAN will post unfilled requests on its Disaster Micro-Site (www.alanaid.org/operations) and via its social media channels, and it will update both frequently in the days and weeks ahead. Businesses and individuals that wish to make a financial donation can do so at www.alanaid.org/donate.
Until then, ALAN urges logistics professionals to focus on keeping themselves and their Gulf Coast area employees safe, and to resist the temptation to send unsolicited products, trucks or personnel directly to impacted areas.
“Many of these well-intended charitable efforts actually get in the way of search, rescue and relief activities,” said Fulton. “So more often than not, the best way that members of our industry can be of help is by sharing their capacity and expertise.”
ALAN is no stranger to hurricane relief efforts dating back to 2005 during Hurricane Katrina.
Most recently in 2024, ALAN responded to two storms, including Helene and Milton.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a massive Category 4 hurricane, unleashing widespread destruction across the southeastern United States. The storm left communities in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee grappling with unprecedented flooding, extensive wind damage, and severely affected infrastructure.
Hurricane Milton made landfall as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, rivaling Helene in severity and destruction, before moving across central Florida. Amidst this devastation, ALAN (American Logistics Aid Network) mobilized “to fill critical supply chain and logistics gaps and ensure that relief reaches those in need.”
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
