Emergency Preparedness 15

When the time came to evacuate his Abasand home due to the wildfire, Dan Edwards had only a few moments to grab the essentials - luckily, he was prepared with his emergency kit for a moment just like this. 

Update: The Be Ready app is no longer supported as of the end of 2020. Find out apps and resources for up-to-date information and alerts. 

 

Last summer, we had a few tornado scares in Southern Alberta. Working at the Red Cross, I felt as though I was prepared to stay safe. However, I learned that there are actually a lot of myths around tornado safety. Learn more about some of the most common ones. 

Following  a powerful, 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the province of Esmeraldas, on the coast of Ecuador on April 17, the Red Cross responded to support the needs of those affected by deploying a health Regional Response Unit (RRU) jointly with the Colombian Red Cross. The RRU was deployed to reinforce health centres and community outreach activities as well as to operate satellite health posts and mobile clinics in various locations across Ecuador.

The Canadian Red Cross' Emergency Response Unit (ERU) provides emergency medial and surgical care during disasters and emergencies around the world. Training for the ERU involves is extensive and intense,  and  includes an immersive simulated disaster training scenerio. This year, members of other national Red Cross societies joined the ERU training to help strengthen the capacity for their countries' disaster prepardness.

If you're like me, your pet is a full-on family member. Because my fluffy little cat is a family member, he's part of our emergency plan. Here's how you can help make sure your pet is as ready as you are. 

Emergency Preparedness Week runs from May 1 - 7, and we are encouraging you to show us how you’re prepared by sharing photos of emergency kit items that are tailored for you. In every kit, there are the basic essentials, such as water, flashlight, and blankets, but we want to know what makes your kit special!

Starting from May, and continuing through the summer months, forest fires are more likely to occur across the country with British Columbia and the Boreal forest zones of Ontario, Quebec, the Prairie Provinces, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories most at risk. Each year, there are approximately 8,000 forest fires in Canada, causing extensive damage and putting lives in danger. Now is the time to learn how to be ready before, during and after a forest fire.