The tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013 resulted in loss of life and heart-wrenching devastation.  ISyE works in a variety of ways to support humanitarian relief by system transformations through education, outreach, projects and research. 

(Georgia Tech Amplifier) Ozlem Ergun is co-director of Georgia Tech's Center for Health and Humanitarian Logistics and explains what happens next in the clean-up process. Read more.

(Georgia Tech Amplifier)­­­ Julie Swann, co-director of the Humanitarian Logistics Center at Georgia Tech, explains what is the best way to reach those in need. Read more.

Today, unsolicited in-kind donations from well-intended donors often cripple relief operations and create what is known as the "second disaster." To address the issue, NGOs have mounted public education campaigns for "cash only" donations. This effort has not been effective in reducing the flow of unsolicited in-kind donations in response to disaster. ISyE Ph.D. Student Moin Islam along with Professor John Vande Vate are working on a "Retail Donation Model" that can help NGOs covert the energy and willingness of well-intended donors, who want to do something specific, to productive in-kind donations.

For more information on these efforts, visit the Georgia Tech Health & Humanitarian Logistics Center at http://humanitarian.scl.gatech.edu/home.