Who would you rather see after a natural disaster---A FEMA official or a Walmart Associate?

  

I have seen many stories on TV this morning about communities preparing for potential disaster on the East coast.  Much of the focus is on how local, State and Federal governments are responding, as it should be at this point.

The story below from NPR is a reminder of how businesses (Walmart, Home Depot) are also busy preparing for post-hurricane scenarios to ensure that basic needs are met and there are minimal shortages of staple goods. Good logistics (HT: Mikeroeconomics) and coordination between the public and private sectors will hopefully create an outcome that limits human suffering and property damage. (HT: Carpe Diem)

Big-Box Stores' Hurricane Prep Starts Early

""Forecasters don't expect Hurricane Irene to make landfall until Saturday. But for nearly a week now, big-box retailers like Walmart and Home Depot have been getting ready.

They've deployed hundreds of trucks carrying everything from plywood to Pop-Tarts to stores in the storm's path. It's all possible because these retailers have turned hurricane preparation into a science — one that government emergency agencies have begun to embrace.""