The Need for Warehouse Information in a Disaster Recovery Communication System

How does a warehouse pertain to the relief efforts before or during disasters? The need to supply goods and services to help individuals that have lost homes, cars, personal belongings, loved ones or even jobs is important. The goods can consist of medical supplies, food, clothes, blankets and other non perishable goods. These goods need to be stored in a safe and accessible environment. By definition a "warehouse is a storehouse for goods and merchandise that can be sold or used by a group or individuals as needed" (Storage Warehouses, 2011). A warehouse can be a permanent or a temporary structure in various strategic locations that stores the goods to be used in support of a disaster. The physical warehouse as well as the warehouse system is an important part of the Disaster Recovery Communication System. The overall concept should allow for the delivery of goods to multiple locations and multiple disasters. A warehouse system needs to keep track of what inventory is stored in each warehouse as well as the quantity. The warehouse system needs to track orders out for relief efforts as well as keep track of vendor orders to stock warehouses. The warehouse system also needs to keep track of the delivery methods used to get the inventory into a warehouse as well as the delivery method of getting the inventory to the people and places in need. The best way is to integrate a warehouse system into a Disaster Management Communication System (DMCS). The combination of a warehouse system and a DMCS system can help save lives in the aftermath of a disaster.