Supply Chain Analysis Network: Dewberry Engineers, CNA, ALAN, and MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab
Partner: FEMA
Year: 2025
The Supply Chain Analysis Network (SCAN), which includes the team from the MIT HSCL, was engaged by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to describe private sector supply chains that provide essential commodities for counties in portions of Northern and Southern California, as well as potential supply chain risks and likely adaptations in response to an earthquake in this region. The study area encompassed eight counties in Southern California, surrounding Los Angeles, and nine in Northern California, surrounding San Francisco.
Essential commodities studied included: food and agriculture, water, fuel (gasoline and diesel), electric power, and freight supply chain systems. The team first described each supply chain system with a focus on the last mile, then analyzed the supply chain flows, and finally identified policy and operational levers that could ease bottlenecks in each supply chain in the aftermath of a disruption. Throughout the project, the team validated findings with supply chain stakeholders – both public and private. This included hosting an in-person round table in Los Angeles, CA, that brought together public and private supply chain operators to discuss how to effectively operationalize coordination between public and private entities after a disaster.
For more information, please reach out to humanitarian@mit.edu.