Floods (Page 10)

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world. 

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

​Heavy rains started in the nation of Myanmar in Southeast Asia in mid-July and continued in many areas of the country, resulting in the flooding of villages and towns, as well as thousands of acres of farmland.  According to the government’s figures as of August 15, more than a million people are affected, with close to 100 deaths.  Floods have caused 12 of 14 the country’s regions to be in difficulty.

Heavy rains and damage from Cyclone Komen have caused extensive flooding and landslides in many parts of Myanmar. The Myanmar Red Cross Society is estimating that 178,000 people have been affected across 12 regions and states. It is expected that the number of people affected by this disaster will increase in the coming days as Red Cross teams reach remote areas and assess the damage.

June 20^th marked the two-year anniversary of the Alberta Floods. High River residents gathered together to celebrate how far they’ve come since that devastating day.

Two years after severe flooding damaged thousands of properties across southern Alberta, the repairs on Chuck Shifflett’s historic High River home are nearly complete. But, like many in the hardest hit regions, Shifflett and his neighbours are still recovering from the disaster. Down his street, four homes were eventually torn down, and just two were rebuilt so far.

The Canadian Red Cross continues to offer a range of programs and services to people affected by the floods in 2013. This includes Red Cross funding for Samaritan’s Purse, Habitat for Humanity, Mennonite Disaster Services and World Renew to help dozens of families in High River and the Calgary area as they rebuild or repair their homes.

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.

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.