Emergency 45

In the year since the tragic train derailment impacted the community of Lac-Mégantic, the Red Cross has been working within the community to help rebuild and recover. Many people were affected in this disaster, including Audrey Dubois who experienced a personal loss but found solace through her work for the Red Cross in Lac-Mégantic. Here is her story:

It has been a year since the tragic train derailment impacted the community of Lac-Mégantic. Over the past year, the Red Cross has helped the community recover by providing emergency assistance and support through a number of projects. Here are two stories from people who lived through the disaster and went on to help their community recover with the help of Red Cross:

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.

As the Alberta Flood anniversary approaches, we at Red Cross are naturally focused on the work still ahead of us. That’s because we know hundreds of families are still struggling to recover.  Even now, people arrive at our offices with heartbreaking stories. Often, their financial credit is maxed out and they don’t know where else to turn. In the midst of this need, it can be tough to take time to recognize everything that’s already been accomplished during the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Flood response. But of course, that’s equally important. So today, Red Cross says a special thank you to all the staff and volunteers who work so hard to help others.

Slabs of fresh sod draw subtle lines along the High River field where Andrea Vasquez’s kids play soccer now. Just as the park shows few signs of last year’s devastating floods, Vasquez says her family also refuses to be defined by the disaster.

The Red Cross continues to provide assistance to people in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina after record rainfall forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Red Cross staff and volunteers from local branches across the three countries quickly deployed resources to help. They've also received additional support from sister Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. 

Debbie Smith, Donna Doak and Sharon McDougall are Red Cross disaster response volunteers from Brockville who have been volunteering their time to help those who have been evacuated from their homes in northern Ontario due to flooding.