In the event of a natural disaster, in addition to rescue work, one of the primary tasks is to deliver the necessary humanitarian aid as quickly as possible. This requires thoughtful logistics and coordination. Companies operating e-shops have the greatest practical experience with fast delivery of the desired goods. Starting with the procurement of goods in the required quality at favorable prices, through their storage, unloading and delivery to the designated place.
It is therefore logical that these companies are intensively involved in the given area. In order for humanitarian aid to be delivered as quickly as possible, and given that some items are not subject to normal orders, it is important that the relevant goods are procured in advance. That’s why Amazon has set up and operates several Disaster Relief Hubs. Until now, they only had these centers in the USA, Asia and Australia, but on March 13, 2024, they opened a Disaster Relief Hub in Europe as well, namely in Rheinberg near Düsseldorf. It is part of the Fulfillment Center, so it can use its logistical capabilities to deliver humanitarian aid to non-profit organizations and communities in areas affected by natural disasters. The center in Rheinberg will provide humanitarian aid for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Over the past 18 months, Amazon has responded to natural disasters around the world, including wildfires in Chile, Colombia, Australia and Hawaii, earthquakes in Japan, Turkey, Syria and Morocco, and hurricanes and cyclones in Puerto Rico, Florida and India.
Ensuring communication is also important when dealing with natural disasters
The Disaster Relief Hub is a dedicated space within Amazon’s global logistics network that enables the storage and rapid dispatch of emergency supplies needed after devastating storms, floods, fires, earthquakes and other extraordinary crisis events. During the opening ceremony, we had the opportunity to tour the center in Rheinberg. They were finishing stacking pallets of emergency supplies. The 2,000 m2 center will hold 1,000 pallets of emergency supplies that would fill 20 Boeing 737 aircraft.
The basic principle of Amazon’s provision of humanitarian aid is that it supplies goods that humanitarian or community organizations in the affected area request. When stocking goods on pallets, they use information from these organizations to understand their needs and identify products most in demand after natural disasters. An analysis of data on requested products after each natural disaster since 2017 found that the most requested items matched more than 80% of the time. These include diapers, sheets, cribs, blankets, heaters, tents and cleaning products. A dedicated center where these products are ready for shipment allows the company to distribute aid in less than 72 hours, much faster than if teams had to pack and store products in different facilities across the continent. Stocked items include shelter supplies (tents, blankets, beds, mats, sleeping bags), hygiene kits (soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste) and cleaning supplies.
Amazon is not only a mail-order store, but also the operator of Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud services, and in the case of natural disasters, it is important not only to provide humanitarian aid, but also to mediate communication, to map calculated damages in hard-hit areas, or to restore the Internet connection and scale call centers so that to cope with the increased number of requests in the affected areas after the disaster. An example is AWS’ collaboration with the American Red Cross, which better serves communities through innovative cloud computing solutions. For example, AWS enables the use of Amazon Alexa-enabled devices to receive hurricane warnings and efficiently schedule blood donations.
Goods on pallets ready for delivery to the scene of a natural disaster
In addition to donating products and providing logistics services, Amazon has also made it easier for customers to donate products through its online stores. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, customers from all over Europe used Amazon’s services and sent thousands of products to partners to support Ukrainian families who had to leave their homes.
AWS has a dedicated Disaster Response team that helps partners prepare for disasters and respond effectively anywhere in the world through cloud technologies. This includes testing proven concepts and improving existing innovations under simulated disaster conditions, such as using AWS Disaster Response vehicles to deploy connectivity networks after severe damage to Internet and telecommunications infrastructure. These vehicles are equipped with powerful and portable cloud computing devices designed for deployment in the most demanding physical conditions.
Recently, AWS provided cloud technology and expertise to support teams fighting wildfires in Chile, Colombia and Maui. Using state-of-the-art technology, teams were able to not only determine the extent of fire damage, but also confirm and monitor new outbreaks. They also used aerial photographs to create maps that enabled more effective decision-making and preventive actions.
Source: www.nextech.sk
