In the wake of last week's devastating storms in the South, the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) is working with its relief agency partners to identify crucial needs and communicate them to concerned members of the supply chain community.

"We want to ensure that we respond in a way that does the greatest good," said Jock Menzies, president of ALAN, a non-profit organization that engages the supply chain community in support of humanitarian relief efforts. "At present, providing financial support to agencies working in the disaster area is the most effective. Other specific needs are sure to emerge, and we'll definitely involve our supply chain network in helping to meet them."

As needs are identified that can be met through the expertise and resources of ALAN's member base, association members will be notified, and the needs will be posted on the ALAN web portal: www.ALANaid.org. Organizations that have previously established relationships with relief agencies can work with those groups to coordinate their donations of goods or services.

In the interim, reputable sources of information include:

• National VOAD - http://www.nvoad.org/

• FEMA - http://www.fema.gov/

Other helpful, state-level resources include:

• Alabama - http://www.servealabama.gov ; http://ema.alabama.gov/

• Georgia - http://www.gavoad.us/ , http://www.gema.state.ga.us/

• Kentucky - http://www.kyvoad.org/, http://kyem.ky.gov/

• Mississippi - http://www.msvoad.org/,  http://www.msema.org/

• Missouri -  http://sema.dps.mo.gov/

• North Carolina - http://www.ncvoad.org/ , www.ncem.org/

• South Carolina - http://www.scemd.org

• Tennessee - http://tnvoad.squarespace.com, http://www.tnema.org/

• Virginia - http://www.vavoad.org/ , http://www.vaemergency.com/

"Our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by these storms," said Menzies. "The supply chain community has proven to be a very valuable resource in times of crises, and we'll work together to help these areas rebuild and recover."

Source: American Logistics Aid Network