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A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Yunnan province of China on Sunday. The Red Cross Society of China has initially mobilized 2,000 family kits, containing household items for families displaced from their homes, as well as quilts and jackets.

After an intensive night in Shuja'iyya, north-eastern Gaza, the Palestine Red Crescent Society together with the ICRC entered the Shuja'iyya neighborhood and helped evacuate the wounded and provided emergency medical services to the affected population after declaring the two hour suspension of hostilities in the neighborhood yesterday. Photo credit: Palestine Red Crescent Society

The Canadian Red Cross is a leader in Ontario when it comes to providing community support services, and sometimes we get the chance to pass that knowledge along to other organizations to help build community capacity in the area of health and wellness. The Red Cross had that opportunity recently when the Chapleau Hospital turned to the Red Cross for advice on establishing their transportation program for seniors.

Significant rainfall this past week in Saskatchewan and Manitoba has resulted in flooding in several towns and communities, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their home. In Manitoba, more flood waters are expected to come from the west in the coming days.

As rain continues to fall on the already saturated ground throughout Southern Alberta this week, Red Cross staff and volunteers are providing relief to the many individuals and families impacted by rising rivers and wide-spread flooding. Red Crossers are in communities, mobilizing supplies such as cots, hygiene kits and blankets, assisting with a reception centre and shelter, and registering evacuees to ensure they receive the help they need. The effects of flooding can be devastating, but there are ways for individuals to help keep themselves safe.

Finding a child unresponsive in the water is a parent’s worst nightmare. It can happen very quickly and only takes a very small amount of water. Sadly, drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for children ages 1-4 in Canada and it’s preventable.

The start of summer also means the start of hurricane season. From June to November, Atlantic Canada is at risk from these powerful storms. Most of the tropical storms and hurricanes that threaten the Canadian coastline typically arrive later in the season according to the Canadian Hurricane Centre. However, now is a good time to get informed about the risks, take steps to prepare and learn more about how these severe weather events can impact the Atlantic coast.

Should we follow animals’ leads when it comes to natural disasters? For centuries, people have argued that animals can predict natural disasters. Some experts believe animals may have a sixth sense allowing them to sense impending natural disasters long before we humans can.