1

Can AI help create a personalized emergency plan? Like many people, I have been hearing a lot about ChatGPT and I wanted to see if I could use it to create an emergency plan, tell me what I should include in my family’s kit, and what to do if there was a disaster in my city. While AI was able to get me started, it’s important to rely on trustworthy organizations like the Canadian Red Cross, when preparing for a disaster or emergency.

It was late February 2019, in Saskatoon. The night was freezing, and Samantha was standing outside in her shorts. She left behind her phone charger, her medication, and the wheelchair she uses to aid in mobility issues stemming from chronic arthritis. Samantha left it all behind because the fire alarm was blaring, and thick smoke was filling the hallways of her apartment building.
 

Strong storms, including tornadoes, can and do happen in Canada. If we can’t control the weather, we can at least prepare for it.
 

The James family were one of many households in Ottawa impacted by the Great Ice Storm of 1998.  They managed through the many chilly nights without power but realized they could have been more prepared. Debbie made the decision, when the time was right, to join the Canadian Red Cross. When learning how to be better prepared for disasters, she also trained to be a responder to help others. 
On September 21, 2018, when tornadoes tore through the Ottawa/Gatineau region, Debbie had volunteered with the Red Cross for 13 years. In that time, she had responded to over 100 individual emergencies and supported Canadians impacted by  large-scale disasters like the Alberta Floods and Fort McMurray Fires. 
 

Jim and his wife always remind their friends how important it is to wear their lifejackets when they go out on the water.

A few years ago, they were out fishing in a Saskatchewan provincial park with another couple. Jim remembers asking his wife if she had caught a fish. That’s when he noticed that she appeared to be dozing off.
 

Swimming back to shore wasn’t exactly how the kayaking day trip was supposed to end. It was a warm, sunny day in July when Serge, his wife Carole and their youngest son, Xavier, decided to head out in their sea kayak to explore Skull Island, not too far from their cottage in southeastern New Brunswick. The water is usually relatively calm in the bay and warm, perfect for kayaking.
 

We all have unique needs, so it makes sense that your emergency kit will also be unique. Read how Red Crosser Mahmood Jafari makes sure his emergency plan includes plans for his mobility during emergencies and disasters, and how those with impaired mobility can be ready. 

As disasters become more common across Canada, Canadian Red Cross President and CEO Conrad Sauvé shares how we can learn from 2018 to plan for 2019.