
I'll start this by saying I'm no stranger to a storm. Growing up in the southeast, I've seen many hurricanes come and go, most recently facing the lash of Debby in Charleston, South Carolina who quite literally ripped apart my local Arby's and sent massive flooding to our most rural lake communities. I also spent a large part of my childhood in western North Carolina and could never have imagined that the small mountain towns I loved would be washed away by the now infamous hurricane Helene.
The impacts of these weather disasters will be long lasting for those in affected areas and my heart pours out for the people of these communities, that include my own friends and family. Similarly in the supply chain, circumstances are shaping up to spell disruption with a capital D. Frank Kenney, director of industry strategy at Cleo, says at this point, supply chains need to shift the mindset from ‘if’ disruptions will happen to ‘when.’ The only way to keep supply chains running smoothly is to build resilience into every aspect of operations. This starts with diversifying logistics strategies. If a shipper is dependent on a single route or port, they’re setting themself up for trouble. Instead, he explains, it’s crucial to have multiple backup routes and options ready to deploy when the unexpected happens.
“The reality we’re facing today is clear: extreme weather events, like the intense hurricane season hitting the U.S. Gulf and East Coast ports, aren’t just anomalies—they’re the new normal. For shipping companies and port authorities, we must rethink how we operate because disruptions like these will become more frequent," says Kenney.
This is even more critical to consider as we face the current port strike alongside the hurricane season. In this ongoing coverage, our editor-in-chief Marina Mayer has continued to detail the lasting effects along east coast ports where the International Longshoreman's Association went on strike 3 days ago, with a resolution currently unlikely [Status of this story may have changed since writing, please refer to the article linked for the most up-to-date info]. Martyn Verhaegen, chief technology officer of Magaya, says freight forwarder and customs broker customers are currently in the thick of it, looking for ways to reroute cargo already in transit. "They’re not only dealing with new surcharges and rising rates on alternate routes, but they also have to re-submit Customs paperwork, adding to the workload, or, in some cases, even divert shipments via Canada or Mexico, which adds a whole other layer of complexity to the mix,” explains Verhaegen.
Alternative solutions and back-up plans are being put into play to combat these disruptions. Angel Rodriguez, ASF Air president, says it isn’t too late to identify potential solutions that can help navigate the current supply chain challenges, but the window of opportunity to mitigate delays is closing in. "Let’s be real, a complete supply chain mode shift from ocean to air isn’t always a practical solution. Apart from the associated costs, there are various other factors to take into consideration that differ from shipping via ocean. However, a portion of your production can, and should be, considered as “shiftable” in mode to create the necessary safety stock," details Rodriquez.
Technology is playing a key role in maintaining visibility and communication as these situations evolve and change in real-time. In regard to the port strike, Verhaegan says cloud-based technology that streamlines extra logistics steps with automation and keeps shipper customers proactively informed about shipments has lent to some reprieve.
"By embracing diversification, leveraging technology and ensuring supply chain visibility, U.S. ports and shipping companies can stay ahead of the curve. The companies that prepare for these challenges now will be the ones that continue to thrive, no matter how extreme weather events rock the boat," says Kenney.
In the hurricane's most detrimental areas, the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has mobilized. As part of response efforts, communication has been a paramount objective and readied action is a necessity. Kathy Fulton, executive director at ALAN, explains there is really no sugar-coating how long and difficult the path to recovery will be.
“This is when the hardest work for ALAN begins – because as Helene’s flood waters begin to recede and relief organizations get in to assess the damage and determine what’s most needed, they’ll be asking us for a great deal of donated logistics assistance,” says Fulton. “With that in mind, we hope that people will visit our Disaster Micro-Site frequently in the coming weeks. That’s where we’ll be posting the open requests we receive for donated logistics assistance."
Thankfully, Fulton explains, the scope of the supply chain industry’s generosity is insurmountable. "We’re fortunate to be part of a community that can play such a meaningful role in delivering help and hope – and we feel hugely grateful for everything they’ll be doing to help us support recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene survivors every step of the way,” continues Fulton.
And with the possibility of another storm on the way, collaboration in the supply chain could be the only way forward.