How the Red Cross helps

Disasters can strike anytime and anywhere. That’s why the Canadian Red Cross is there to help. More than 5,000 trained disaster management volunteers across Canada help vulnerable communities affected by emergencies and disaster – from situations ranging from individual house fires, power outages and floods to wildfires and hurricanes, which disrupt entire regions.

Before a disaster happens, the Canadian Red Cross is hard at work in your local community, planning for the unexpected. We build relationships with local government and make sure we have supplies nearby. We are also always training our volunteer base. Following a disaster in Canada, Red Cross workers provide vital assistance for people’s basic needs, including:

• family reunification
• emergency lodging
• reception and information
• emergency food
• emergency clothing
• personal services

 
We work in partnership with first responders, emergency managers and public officials to support their response activities. We also work in collaboration with other voluntary sector organizations.

All Red Cross assistance is provided free of charge thanks to volunteer thousands of volunteers who give their time to train extensively and respond. Our services also rely on the generous financial support of individual and corporate donors.

To find out how your donations are helping out with flood relief efforts in Alberta, check here.

To find out how your donations are helping the people of Lac-Mégantic recover from the train derailment, check here.