Emergency Preparedness

Have you ever wondered what living on an island is like? On Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, living on an island is reality for myself and the rest of the population of 2,360 people. When you are isolated, you have no other choice but to pitch in. Most people wear multiple hats in the community. The rule of survival is to help your neighbours, friends, and family. 
 

A lot of us are now at home following measures taken to help slow the spread of COVID-19, and if you’re anything like me there is only so much time you can spend rewatching episodes of shows you’ve seen over and over again. So, if you’re looking for something to do, why not take some time to make sure your household is ready for an emergency like flooding or a fire?
 

Around the world, a weather or climate-related disaster occurs every one to two days with millions of people needing life-saving assistance each year. When the Red Cross responds to emergencies and disasters, it's important that we consider the environmental impacts of our work - here's how we're doing that. 

It’s a time of year many Canadians look forward to as the weather warms up, leaving behind the thought of heavy snow for another season. But while we look forward to the blossoming of spring, there are a few things to keep in mind that could affect you and your family.
Being prepared means thinking about the possibilities.

Some of us are still dealing with deep freezes but, as steadfast Canadians, we know spring is around the corner and snow won’t stay. When temperatures rise, especially quickly after a heavy snowfall, we best be ready for our Canadian thaw. When it rapidly warms up, the risk of flooding increases so you – and your home – should be prepared.

It’s easy to tell people to have a kit ready for a disaster, but that doesn’t mean it’s always simple for people to put them together. Purchasing all the items you need for you and your family to be ready for three days can seem expensive – but it is worth it! Here is how to get your kit ready without blowing your budget.

Sometimes we're asked about how aid workers stay safe. There are many ways that humanitarian organizations like Red Cross work to make sure aid workers have the security needed to do their work, including training them for working in insecure areas. 

Take a look at this list of things we think you should do – whether to better prepare yourself, for emergency situations, or to help others, tackling this list would make for a great New Year ahead!