Red Cross launches new app

The Canadian Red Cross is launching a new app that will help people prepare for emergencies just in time for Emergency Preparedness Week. The Red Cross Be Ready app gives users instant access to the information needed in order to prepare for different emergency situations and to take action when a disaster strikes. This is important since nearly three quarters of Canadians feel confident that they would know what to do if confronted with an emergency situation, yet only 47% actually have any type of emergency supply kit in their homes. Even fewer have an alternative source of water available should anything happen to their usual supply.

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 1-7, 2016) is a national event coordinated by Public Safety Canada with support from provinces, municipalities and other organizations – including the Red Cross. The purpose is to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies.

The new free app includes live weather feeds as well as interactive learning tools that educate Canadians on how to prepare their homes and families before, during and after disasters and emergencies. The Be Ready app is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android devices. While this new technology will be an important addition to any preparedness toolkit – Canadians must still take the necessary steps to prepare their families for emergencies.

“The Canadian Red Cross recommends keeping enough supplies on hand to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours in the event of a disaster or up to two weeks in a health emergency,” said Canadian Red Cross Vice-President of Saskatchewan, Cindy Fuchs. “We can’t control when or where a disaster will happen, but being prepared can help mitigate the impact disasters have on people, families and communities.”

In addition to the launch of the app, communities across the province are participating in emergency preparedness activities, including the #InMyKit social media campaign that uses tweets, posts, blogs and videos to share examples of what people are including in their emergency preparedness kits.

While Canadians often believe they will never find themselves faced with a disaster, the reality is that emergencies can hit anywhere, at anytime.

The Canadian Red Cross works closely alongside national and local emergency management authorities to support emergency preparedness and response activities. When disaster strikes, the Canadian Red Cross relies on a network of more than 6,000 trained disaster response volunteers across Canada to help respond. Thanks to the generosity of our network of volunteers, the Red Cross is responding and present in communities from coast to coast.

For more information and many helpful resources to help you and your family plan for an emergency, visit www.redcross.ca/ready.