Emergency

Read blog posts from the Canadian Red Cross about emergencies and disasters at home and abroad

Latest Posts

“It was amazing how much help we got”: an evacuee's account of the Northwest Territories wildfires

Michele Michetti smiling at the camera

For more than 20 hours, people fleeing wildfire in Northwest Territories drove south to get to safety and plan their next steps. Michele Michetti, 29, remembers seeing flames, but it’s the people that stick out the most in her memories on the drive from Yellowknife. 

Michele Michetti smiling at the camera

Read about humanitarian worker and author France Hurtubise

France is wearing glasses and an orange vest while smiling at the camera in an outdoor setting

France Hurtubise, a retired Communications delegate living in Montréal, looks back on her experience in the humanitarian sector and shares her story with us. Over the course of 25 years working abroad, France traveled to four continents and worked in countries heavily impacted by conflicts and disasters. In May 2022, she published “Grandeur et dénuement”, an account of her years with the Red Cross (ICRC, IFRC and CRC) and the UN.

France is wearing glasses and an orange vest while smiling at the camera in an outdoor setting

A Volunteer Journey

Joe is standing on rocks, in front of the sea, and looking at the camera

Joe Michielsen is entering his third decade as a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross in southern Alberta. Discover why he thinks “volunteering is the best job”.

Joe is standing on rocks, in front of the sea, and looking at the camera

The mind-body connection: Providing mental health support in Ukraine

Dr. Oleh Berezyuk is discussing with patients while smiling and hoilding a piece of paper in is left hand

Mondays are always the busiest day for the psychology team at Lviv Clinical Hospital of Emergency and Intensive Care in western Ukraine. Follow psychiatrist Dr. Oleh Berezyuk and his team around the hospital as they meet with new and existing patients across the rehabilitation, intensive care, surgery and internal medicine units.

Dr. Oleh Berezyuk is discussing with patients while smiling and hoilding a piece of paper in is left hand

Heartbreak and hope: One year of conflict in Ukraine 

An older woman smiling up at the camera

What does it mean to live through a year of armed conflict? For some, it means having to leave behind everything they know for somewhere safer. For others, it means spending hours in bomb shelters, or hours without electricity. For too many it means being separated from family, struggling to access basic medical care and not knowing what will happen next. 

An older woman smiling up at the camera

The Community Services Recovery Fund – supporting community organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

A young woman sitting at a computer

A new program has been launched to help community service organizations in Canada strengthen their internal structures and practices as they recover from the pandemic. This will, in turn, assist them as they continue to support their communities.

A young woman sitting at a computer

Local affected by Hurricane Fiona finds strength in volunteering with this community

William Coney discusses with a person affected by Fiona

When Hurricane Fiona hit William Coney’s quaint neighbourhood on September 24, 2022, the Canadian Red Cross volunteer did what he knew best: help others. He says volunteering gave him a sense of agency. “Certainly, it was a lot nicer to be autonomous and active. This was a way I could help my local community.”

William Coney discusses with a person affected by Fiona

What responding to emergencies in Canada and West Africa taught me

Sarah Parisio walking in flooded water with 3 Red Cross members

Sarah Parisio's role within the Canadian Red Cross involves supporting people impacted by disasters through leading teams of fellow humanitarians who respond to emergencies in Canada and around the world. Discover how she brought with her skills developed through responding to emergencies in Canada to an international context and what new knowledge she brought back home in return.

Sarah Parisio walking in flooded water with 3 Red Cross members

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About The Blog

The purpose of this blog, quite simply, is to talk. This blog is an opportunity for Red Cross staff, volunteers, supporters and friends to share stories about what is happening in your community and the important work you are doing. It is a tool that will help keep all of us connected.

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