Out of the Whirlwind

Out of the Whirlwind is a novel-like narrative report on how demand and supply networks in Puerto Rico responded to the impact of Hurricane Maria. Particular attention is given to water, food, and fuel. Both enterprise-level and individual decisions and their operational implications are described.

This book highlights maritime supply chains between Jacksonville, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico; local efforts to restore and surge grocery supplies; commercial flows of food and fuel; the impact of the FEMA relief effort; and several previously untold aspects of demand and supply interacting under severe duress. The narrative is based on extensive interviews with survivors and post-event economic and inventory data. The final chapter underscores key principles of network science and outlines strategic implications for catastrophe preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. A detailed research bibliography is provided.

Supply chain managers are given insight into crisis management principles and practice. Emergency managers are able to look-inside as crucial private sector supply chains respond in real-time to disruption and destruction. Both private and public sector professionals are introduced to Network Science concepts that assist in diagnosis and prognosis of flows and failure-to-flow.