Emergency Preparedness 17

Floods are the most frequent and costly natural disasters in Canada. A flood is often caused by heavy rainfall and the rapid melting of a thick snow pack in the spring. During this time the majority of Canadian rivers, and other large bodies of water, swell, increasing the risk of flooding. The potential for flood damage is particularly high where there is development on low-lying, flood-prone lands.

According to recent polling by the Red Cross, two thirds of Canadians say they have not taken steps to prepare in the event of a disaster, like a severe winter storm. Are you and your family prepared for a weather-related emergency?

As winter approaches, along with the annual threat of snow storms and extended power outages, the Canadian Red Cross is ready to help, just as they did recently when thousands of Calgarians were plunged into darkness.

The Manitoba Disaster Management trailer recently rolled out of the Red Cross Winnipeg office, heading east to Ontario, ready for a dramatic makeover.

This year’s World Disasters Report, released by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), takes on a challenging theme of looking at how culture affects disaster risk reduction, and how disasters and risk influence culture.

Sebastien Jouffroy is a humanitarian worker for the Canadian Red Cross. He was deployed to the Philippines for one year and will send updates on his experiences throughout the mission. This is Sebastien’s most recent blog post from the Philippines

This week, Janice Babineau and delegates from across the country are participating in an Emergency Response Unit (ERU) training exercise in Victoria, BC. Follow the action on Twitter and Instagram with #CRCeru.

As part of a three-week in-store fundraising campaign in August to support local Red Cross disaster relief, Walmart Canada and the Canadian Red Cross teamed up for Build-a-Kit Challenge, to help inform as to what is needed to survive for the first 72 hours after a disaster strikes.