Amazon Opens Its 1st US Wildfire/Disaster Relief Hub In Inland Empire

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — Amazon announced last week that it opened its first U.S.-based Disaster Relief Hub designated specifically for wildfire relief efforts.

The location? A fulfillment center in San Bernardino County.

According to the retail giant, the Hub is storing supplies that will enable Amazon to swiftly deploy critical relief to communities across the U.S. affected by wildfires.

"Prepositioning relief supplies is crucial for delivering aid quickly during fast-moving wildfire events," said Alice Shobe, global director of Amazon Community Impact. "This Hub's strategic location near Amazon Air facilities and our ground transportation network ensures that we can efficiently get relief items to disaster response organizations that have a proven ability to receive and distribute these donations to impacted communities."

Supplies are ready to be shipped, with packages arriving in less than 72 hours, much faster than if teams had to pack and consolidate the products from different facilities across the country, according to Amazon.

The more than 6,000 stored items include wildfire mitigation equipment such as axes, goggles, masks, rakes, shovels, smoke pumps, and soil sifters; and personal supplies including fire-safe rubber boots, high-particulate matter filtration respirators, hydration packets, neck gaiters, specialized gloves, trauma kits, and more.

The United Nations projects up to a 14% increase globally in extreme wildfires by 2030 due to climate change. By 2050, the uptick is expected to increase to 30% and 50% by the end of this century.

"During a wildfire event, fulfilling hard-to-source product needs within a tight timeline, sufficient quantity and cost-effective manner presents a challenge for both local and international relief organizations," said Abby Browning, chief of Private Sector and NGO Coordination, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. "Amazon's commitment to mobilize its global inventory, logistics infrastructure and vast network as a force for distributing donated supplies helps community partners focus their resources and personnel on supporting on-the-ground response efforts."

With the help of relief organizations working in wildfire-impacted regions, including the American Red Cross, Good 360, After The Fire, and All Hands All Heart, Amazon said it leveraged its data and forecasts from the nonprofits to stock the Inland Empire Hub with products that households and individuals need as they return to their communities after a fire.

Amazon now operates 14 Disaster Relief Hubs globally.