Red Cross Talks (Page 42)

When provincial officials first declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19, it was a bit of a blur for me. I had just lost my grandmother and was still working through my thoughts. I felt confused and scared. I had a dozen sleepless nights from being fixated on the news.

On hot days, overload to power grids often happen. However, whether it’s due to a grid failure or a thunderstorm, power outages can leave you without air conditioning, lighting, hot water or even running water – and they can last for days or even weeks. Here are some tips to help you prepare.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian Red Cross volunteers are working in local communities to assist the most vulnerable populations.
Volunteers such as Luc and Adele are administering door-to-door Safety and Wellness checks in Ottawa.

Summer is here and it’s time to celebrate! Here's how we can enjoy some of our favourite summer activities safely.

The Upper Squamish Valley Fire (or Magee Road Fire) was the first emergency of 2020 requiring evacuations to hit the province of British Columbia. Read how the Red Cross responded, when rules around COVID-19 drastically altered how we work. 

You may have heard the saying “when thunder roars, head indoors”, and that’s great advice. Thunderstorms move quickly, and may be accompanied by high winds, heavy rain, hail, or tornadoes. Pay attention to weather warnings.
 
When outdoors, keep checking for rapidly darkening skies or increasing wind, and seek shelter immediately if you hear thunder or see lightning. If you can’t get home or into shelter, here are some things to keep in mind:

I saw many friends try their hand at painting, spruce up their gardens, and even build a homemade app to plan meals for isolation when constant trips to the market weren’t possible. We created something important to us, and we shared in the feeling of how much our mood and quality of life had improved while working on these “new-to-us” projects!

When the muddy water from nearby rivers spilled into Fort McMurray in late April, some made its way into the Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP) depot there. At its height, the freezing floodwater stood more than a metre deep in the building.