Strong storms, including tornadoes, can and do happen in Canada. If we can’t control the weather, we can at least prepare for it.
 

Colourful mats line the floor, dolls sit in anticipation of being played with, building blocks stand at the ready, and puzzles lay piled waiting to be put together. These are rooms any child would want to play in – brightly painted Child Friendly Spaces, created by the Nepal Red Cross Society following the 2015 earthquake, with funding support from the Canadian Red Cross.

The James family were one of many households in Ottawa impacted by the Great Ice Storm of 1998.  They managed through the many chilly nights without power but realized they could have been more prepared. Debbie made the decision, when the time was right, to join the Canadian Red Cross. When learning how to be better prepared for disasters, she also trained to be a responder to help others. 
On September 21, 2018, when tornadoes tore through the Ottawa/Gatineau region, Debbie had volunteered with the Red Cross for 13 years. In that time, she had responded to over 100 individual emergencies and supported Canadians impacted by  large-scale disasters like the Alberta Floods and Fort McMurray Fires. 
 

Even before Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Bahamas, the Red Cross has been on the ground. Now a response is underway to provide much needed aid. 

In this digital age, there are many tech tools available to help you prepare and safely weather storms. Here are some tips for using tech to prepare for hurricanes this season. 

The Canadian Red Cross is committed to making sure that gender equality and social inclusion are an active part of our programs. Sometimes this means having to challenge assumptions about who can do what - such as heavy labour. Recently in Mozambique, the Red Cross purposefully sought out women labourers, read about their experiences.

The Taylor family had less than five minutes to evacuate their home when a train derailed near their community. In the rush, therapy cat Tigger slipped off his leash outside the evacuation centre and couldn't be found. Luckily, with Red Cross help, Tigger is back home with his family! 

August 25, 2019 marks two years since the Bangladesh Population Movement began. Since 2017, more than 700,000 people have fled violence in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state for Bangladesh. Many international aid workers, like Canadian Red Crosser Norine Naguib, continue to support the efforts there.