©InfoWith the exception of the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar, all our Overseas Branches are geographically in the Caribbean and north Atlantic, a region vulnerable to many natural disasters.
Staff and volunteers in our Overseas Branches are trained specialists in helping their communities prepare for, survive and recover from disasters like hurricanes, floods and even an active volcano.
Hurricanes in the Caribbean and north Atlantic
Hurricanes are increasing in strength and becoming more frequent in the region. Hurricane season is usually June to November but changing climate patterns mean these dates can change.
The Red Cross works throughout the year to prepare for hurricanes and their devastating effects.
©InfoFor example, the Turks and Caicos Islands were hit by two hurricanes – Hanna and Ike – in one week in 2008. Local Red Cross volunteers immediately helped evacuate people to shelters and hospitals.
The British Red Cross sent two disaster management experts to the Turks and Caicos Islands, before Hurricane Ike hit. During and in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, they worked with local volunteers to evacuate people, run shelters, organise a central feeding station, transport people to hospital, distribute sandbags to keep out floodwaters and hand out clothing and tarpaulins.
After the hurricanes, they organised flights of relief supplies and worked with community organizations to identify the most vulnerable people to receive food and essential non-food items.
The British Red Cross also launched the Caribbean Hurricane Appeal to fund the emergency response.
Flooding in the Caribbean and north Atlantic
©InfoWhile hurricanes make international news, floods are more frequent and cause equally catastrophic damage. With any category of storm or hurricane, floods could follow, creating particular problems to low-lying areas of the islands.
In July 2008, when Hurricane Dolly sped through the Caribbean, volunteers in the Cayman Islands handed out 125 sandbags to help residents in low-lying areas protect their homes from flooding. They also helped an elderly couple whose house had already been flooded clear the mucky water from their home.
Read more about Hurricane Dolly in the Cayman Islands
Volcano in Montserrat
©InfoIn 1995, what was thought to be a dormant volcano on the small island of Montserrat erupted causing catastrophic damage, killing 19 people, and changing the lives of the people of Montserrat forever.All the people of Montserrat were evacuated to the north of the island and more than half of the population was then evacuated to other countries, including the UK.
The capital city, Plymouth, was completely wiped out by effects of the volcano and the island had to relocate all its activity to the north. This meant rebuilding the infrastructure, economy and people’s homes in this part of the island.
Local Red Cross volunteers have been helping people since the volcano first erupted. They helped the government run long-term shelters, built a home for elderly people made homeless by the volcano and even rebuilt their own Branch office.
The volcano is still rumbling on and it is currently one of the longest active volcanoes recorded in the world. When its dome collapsed in July 2008, volunteers helped evacuate residents again.
Find out how Overseas Branches respond to disasters
Read about first aid in our Overseas Branches
Learn about HIV education in the Caribbean