In Canada, as we’ve been bracing ourselves for winter weather, we’ve been watching news about our Sister Society across the globe in Australia as they prepare for Cyclone Yasi. Officials have predicted it will be one of the worst cyclones to hit northern Australia, which was, just a few months ago, drenched in alarming floods.
The Earth Observatory shows this satelite image of Yasi heading toward Australia
For the last year, we’ve watched how the internet and social media is changing how we prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Australian Red Cross is taking advantage of the power of the World Wide Web by launching, along with the Queensland Police, the National Inquiry and Registration System.
This online registration tool aims to assist people affected by the cyclone and their families and friends. Through it, Australians can register online so that anyone searching for them will know whether they are safe. This is especially important in situations where power outages and cell phone go down – as could very likely be the case in this storm. If you’re trying to find friends or family in Queensland, check out the site.
If you are on Twitter, a search of the hashtag #Yasi shows that people around the world have been sharing preparedness information and news about the storm. The “tweets” are coming in so fast that you can hardly read them all!
You can get updates from the Australian Red Cross by following them at @RedCrossAU or by checking out their Web site.
For more information, you can also check the Canadian Red Cross.