How building capacity leads to better outcomes in disasters

How do some countries and regions escape relatively unscathed from major disasters, while others struggle to recover from these events? Many factors are at play, and while it’s impossible to compare one disaster with another, it’s clear that the level of preparedness and the local capacity to respond quickly to the disaster can significantly improve the outcomes.
 
We saw this most recently in Mexico as Hurricane Patricia quickly gathered strength to become one of the strongest storms ever recorded. As the country’s Pacific coast braced for its inevitable landfall and prepared for a potentially devastating combination of damaging winds, torrential rain, storm surges, landslides and flooding, the local Red Cross sprang into action.
 
The Mexican Red Cross mobilized 500 volunteers to help with evacuations, the set-up and running of shelters and the positioning of emergency supplies in the areas most likely to be affected. At the same time, here at the Canadian Red Cross, we reached out with offers to help if needed. There’s been strong collaboration between the Canadian, American and Mexican Red Cross for years, with expertise and resources shared across borders during disasters. That being said, the first line of help is always the local Red Cross and the Mexican Red Cross is incredibly well prepared for emergencies.
 
Fortunately, the storm missed the most heavily populated towns on the coast and weakened very quickly, resulting in a less catastrophic outcome than originally forecast. Still, there has been flooding, buildings damaged and people displaced. Without the initial evacuations and execution of emergency plans, things could have been much worse.
 
The planning and capacity built over many years in Mexico, by the Red Cross alongside government and community organizations, has once again proven to be crucial. Investing in local capacity to respond to emergencies and disasters is a priority for the Red Cross and Red Crescent around the world as outlined in this year’s World Disasters Report. The Canadian Red Cross works closely with Red Cross societies throughout the Americas to help them be better prepared to respond to disasters such as hurricanes.
 
Building local capacity is just as critical here at home, in Canada, where local Red Cross volunteers are the first to provide help to people displaced by floods, fires and other disasters. Canadians can get involved by joining the Red Cross as a volunteer.

Read about preparedness projects in the Caribbean supported by the Government of Canada.