The headlines have been filled with the heart-wrenching stories of the destructive fires that swept through Maui on August 8th. The picturesque coastal town of Lahaina was not spared from the devastation, forcing residents to flee for their lives. However, there was nowhere to run.
Now, days later, the death toll has reached a staggering 99 lives lost, and it is only expected to rise. Countless homes and structures have been reduced to ashes, leaving behind a chilling scene of destruction. Front Street, once a historic gem, is now a haunting sight, with charred car shells serving as a grim reminder of the tragedy.
Search teams are bravely combing through the remnants of each house, painstakingly searching for any signs of life and grappling with the full extent of the damage.
“We mourn with those who’ve lost family members, friends and homes, not to mention most of their hometown,” says Kathy Fulton, Executive Director of the American Logistics Aid Network, otherwise known as ALAN. “And we have already begun actively supporting relief efforts.”
Fulton added that oftentimes after a disaster, it’s not uncommon for there to be a lot of mixed feelings and a lot of confusion. “And that’s certainly been the case with this one. While there’s been a huge outpouring of love from individuals and organizations who have offered their support, there’s also been a lot of frustration because they can’t seem to find anyone to take them up on their offers. Meanwhile, outrage has grown because some media stories have reported that Maui’s disaster survivors are still going without the things they need.”
ALAN’s partners have been actively visiting Maui and they have observed that all the points of distribution are fully stocked. In fact, some of these locations have been so inundated with donations that they have temporarily paused distribution to organize everything properly.
Many of the fire survivors on the island are receiving essential assistance such as food, water, medical care, and more, according to Fulton. While you may not have an opportunity to provide direct aid at the moment, their needs are being met. “And don’t be surprised if your opportunity to help comes many weeks, months or even years down the line – including many opportunities from ALAN, because supply chain services are often some of the most critical resources that disaster relief organizations need.”
How ALAN is Helping Survivors
ALAN swiftly responded to the news of the fires by connecting with its non-profit partners on the ground to determine their specific needs for logistics services and equipment. Fortunately, the community has been incredibly generous and has already met their short-term needs. ALAN recognizes, however, that these needs may change as relief and recovery efforts continue.
To stay updated on the situation, please visit ALAN’s Disaster Micro-Site at alanaid.org/operations, where they regularly post open needs.
In addition, ALAN has been reaching out to businesses with products on Maui or nearby islands who are willing to share their resources. Their goal is to connect these businesses with organizations in need, ensuring that the right products reach the right place.
To further streamline efforts, ALAN has created a logistics workgroup for the Hawai’i VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters). As the leader of this group, their role is to identify both short and long-term needs and capabilities, as well as individuals and organizations willing to address them. Their aim is to reduce confusion, eliminate gaps, and prevent duplication of effort, as no effort should go to waste when the need is so great.
ALAN is also working closely with the state of Hawaii’s donations task force to manage the influx of unsolicited donations. They are responsible for securely storing, sorting, and utilizing these items at the appropriate time, place, and location. With their expertise in logistics, ALAN is well-equipped for this task.
All of these actions are made possible through your generous financial support. If you would like to contribute, please consider donating now.
Lastly, ALAN is preparing to fulfill requests for donated logistics assistance, and we invite you to participate in this important endeavor.
How the Trucking Industry Can Help
If you have warehouse space, trucks, equipment, or supplies that you can donate to support this cause, please offer them now. ALAN needs a lot of support on both the islands and the mainland. The more information ALAN has about available resources, the quicker they can fulfill requests and provide assistance to survivors.
Also, reach out to ALAN to let them know what you and your company are doing to support the relief efforts in Hawaii. ALAN doesn’t need to manage everything, but they want to take advantage of opportunities to share resources and lessen the burden on Maui.
Please refrain from sending things to Hawaii at this time. Relief organizations and survivors don’t have a place to store or manage them. Dealing with the influx of products has become a challenge for ALAN’s partners, who are already overwhelmed.
Additionally, please consider making a donation to support ALAN’s response efforts. ALAN relies on financial support to continue providing critical logistics assistance to communities like Maui in their recovery process.
Source: Women in Trucking
