Natural disasters, from droughts and heatwaves to hurricanes and floods, are now ever-present in supply chain conversations. As worsening climate change wreaks havoc across the globe, the World Economic Forum estimates that 305.1 million people will require urgent humanitarian assistance in 2025. Still, no one expected the staggering destruction of the latest spate of wildfires in California.
We’ve watched in shock as the wildfires have spread, uncontrolled, over the past week. The stories and images of houses in flames and neighborhoods in ruins are truly devastating. As of this writing, the fires have displaced thousands of residents, caused an estimated $40 billion in damage and left at least 24 people dead. Some better news came Wednesday when red-flag warnings expired in most areas, including the largest Palisades Fire zone. However, the National Weather Service warns that gusty winds linger in the mountains, and Santa Anas will return early next week. Rich Thompson, an incident meteorologist, says cooler temperatures over the weekend may help firefighters make “some good headway” as they battle the blazes.
While the threat to human life is always our primary concern, supply chains are also facing wide-reaching repercussions “due to California’s role as a vital nexus for transportation, technology and industrial machinery,” per DC Velocity. Businesses depending on the region’s ports and highways should expect delays, shortages and higher costs as a result of power outages, evacuations, and closures of key routes and infrastructure.
Amazon is doing its part by leveraging its nearby Wildfire Relief Hub, which is “stocked with more than 6,000 essential items,” reports Chain Store Age. The company is also activating its significant logistics infrastructure and technology to deliver needed items to first responders, nonprofit partners and humanitarian relief agencies on the ground. Amazon formed the Hub after determining that, during an emergency, it can take days for necessary supplies to reach the disaster zone. “To quicken that timeframe, Amazon analyzed its data across four years of disaster support and formed a pre-positioning strategy,” Chain Store Age goes on to explain.
Other supply chain organizations are also helping in the relief efforts. “The California Trucking Association was sharing alerts about the potential for truck rollovers caused by the high winds” before the fires began, reports Trucking Dive. Later, the organization provided critical information about road closures and other safety alerts. “Harbor Trucking Association members are also mobilizing resources and supplies to help those who have been displaced by the disaster,” Trucking Dive continues. And, according to disaster support guidelines, they’re checking in before bringing supplies to ensure that the right resources are going to where they’re needed. The community has been generous in donating water, canned goods and other necessary supplies, and local organizations are fully stocked; but transporting these resources to the people who need them most requires expert logistical planning.
That’s where ALAN comes in. ASCM is proud to be an industry member of the American Logistics Aid Network, which has been on the ground supporting disaster workers and victims for years. The nonprofit organizes logistics-related relief resources, providing essential just-in-time knowledge and guidance for amazing results. If you would like to help, ALAN requests donations in the form of warehouse space, trucks, equipment and financial contributions. Or to volunteer your transportation or warehousing expertise locally, here is a list of urgent requests.
