International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
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Disaster management
Hurricane season 2008
September 2008, Gonaives, Haiti. Less than a week ago, hurricane Gustav had already caused serious damage to homes, infrastructure and communities. Based on initial assessments, immediate needs include family kits containing jerry cans, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, mosquito nets as well as mattresses. (p18179)

The Atlantic hurricane season has officially started on 1 June. The number of hurricanes forecast continues to rise every year. It is predicted that there will be 15 named storms in 2008, four of which are expected to be severe - that is, category 3, 4 or 5.

The Red Cross is working to identify challenges and analyse operational constraints that could affect the hurricane response, as a follow-up to a 2007 meeting that focused on the analysis of contingency plans and coordination.

News
 Red Cross brings vital assistance to affected families23 October 2008
Severe flooding in Central America: Red Cross brings vital assistance to affected families
Torrential rains carried by a series of depressions and storms have left a wake of devastation in Central America over the last three weeks. Countries most affected by flooding and landslides include Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua where tens of thousands of people have sought refuge in shelters.
Full story
One of these survivors is María Eugenia Raxuleu from Guatemala. She was just a girl when Mitch swept away almost everything she had. Today, at the age of 23, she makes a living from selling garments she produces as a dressmake. (p18550)22 October 2008
Survivors of Hurricane Mitch have rebuilt their lives
Ten years ago, Hurricane Mitch changed the lives of millions of people. Many lost their homes and livelihoods; whole communities were devastated. Today, thanks to projects in which the survivors were directly involved, many have been able to improve their living conditions.
Full story
More information about the hurricane Mitch (in Spanish)
More related news
29 September 2008
Haiti: shelter from the storm
25 September 2008
IFRC Haiti operation ramps up
19 September 2008
Haiti: after the deluge
16 September 2008
Red Cross help just beginning for Hurricane victims
15 September 2008
Haiti: humanitarian situation worsens
5 September 2008
Haiti: Red Cross Red Crescent in action
4 September 2008
Cuba: Early warning saves lives in “worst hurricane in 50 years”
1 September 2008
Gustav: Red Cross preparations enable fast response
1 September 2008
Red Cross shelters thousands as Gustav approaches
29 August 2008
American Red cross braces for Gustav landfall
29 August 2008
Haiti: early warning saves lives
28 August 2008
Americas: thousands affected by hurricane Gustav
20 August 2008
Fay, the sixth Atlantic storm of the season tears across the Caribbean
3 July 2008
Nicaragua: restoring livelihoods after hurricane Felix
4 June 2008
Belize Red Cross responds to tropical storm Arthur
4 June 2008
Caribbean: planning and partnerships "essential" for disaster recovery
Press releases
10 September 2008
Red Cross launches urgent Caribbean hurricane appeal
9 September 2008
Cuba: Red Cross Red Crescent launches urgent appeal for 2008 hurricane season
5 September 2008
Haiti: Red Cross Red Crescent launches urgent appeal
3 September 2008
Red Cross Red Crescent launches Hurricane Gustav appeal
2 June 2008
Red Cross Red Crescent gets ready for 2008 hurricane season
Country profiles
Related documents
10 year commemoration of hurricane Mitch (in Spanish)
2007 Hurricane contingency plan (PDF document, 1.3 Mb, 22 pages)
Americas - Regional documents
Central America - Regional documents
Caribbean - Regional documents
South America - Regional documents
Related useful links
Video: Hurricane Mitch - a new awareness
Video: Red Cross on the Gulf Coast storms coming and going
Video: Preparing the hurricane season in the Caribbean
Other International Federation videos
Photo galleries
Haiti, hurricane Hanna, September 2008
More information
Get prepared
2007 American Red Cross hurricane guide
Preparing for hurricanes
Preparing for floods
Preparing for landslides
Preparing for tornadoes
Prepare your family for disasters
Build a disaster supplies kit
Shelter-in-place in an emergency
Multimedia
Cuba: Hurricane Paloma (November 2008) - Requires Google Earth installed
Haiti: Hurricane season relief operation (September 2008) - Requires Google Earth installed
Path of Hurricane Ike (September 2008) - Requires Google Earth installed
Path of Hurricane Hanna (September 2008) - Requires Google Earth installed - PDF version
Path of Hurricane Gustav (August-September 2008) - Requires Google Earth installed - PDF version
Operation updates and appeals
18 November 2008
Caribbean: 2008 hurricane season - Information bulletin no.3 (MDR49003)
12 November 2008
Cuba: hurricane Paloma - Information bulletin no.1
7 November 2008
Panama: floods - Operation update no.1 for the DREF bulletin no.MDRPA004
7 November 2008
Caribbean: hurricane Paloma - Information bulletin no.1
7 November 2008
Costa Rica: floods - Operation update for the DREF bulletin no.MDRCR003
6 November 2008
Haiti: 2008 hurricane season (MDRHT005) - Second revised emergency appeal
31 October 2008
Caribbean and Mexico: Hurricane Dean - Final report of appeal no.MDR49001
31 October 2008
Central America and Belize: Floods (MDR43004) - Operations update no.1 with revised budget
31 October 2008
Caribbean: hurricane Noel (MDR49002) - Operation update no.3
30 October 2008
Cuba: 2008 hurricane season (MDRCU001) - Operation update no.2
29 October 2008
Belize: floods - DREF bulletin no.MDRBZ001
24 October 2008
Central America: floods - Preliminary emergency appeal no.MDR43004
23 October 2008
Antigua and Barbuda: hurricane Omar - DREF bulletin no.MDRAG001
21 October 2008
Central America: floods - DREF bulletin no.MDR43004
17 October 2008
Haiti: 2008 hurricane season (MDRHT005) - Operations update no.2
16 October 2008
Caribbean: hurricane Omar - Information bulletin no.1
29 September 2008
Suriname: floods (MDRSR002) - Operations update no.2
25 September 2008
Cuba: 2008 hurricane season (MDRCU001) - Revised emergency appeal
25 September 2008
Haiti: 2008 hurricane season (MDRHT005) - Revised emergency appeal
9 September 2008
Caribbean: 2008 hurricane season - Preliminary emergency appeal no.MDR49003
8 September 2008
Cuba: 2008 hurricane season - Preliminary emergency appeal no.MDRCU001
5 September 2008
Haiti: 2008 hurricane season - Preliminary emergency appeal no.MDRHT005
2 September 2008
Caribbean: Tropical storm Hanna - DREF bulletin no.MDR49004
2 September 2008
Caribbean: hurricane Gustav - Preliminary emergency appeal no.MDR49003
27 August 2008
Haiti: hurricane Gustav - DREF bulletin no.MDRHT005
27 August 2008
Costa Rica and Nicaragua: tropical storm Alma (DREF no.MDR43003) - Information bulletin no.1
26 August 2008
Caribbean: hurricane Gustav - Information bulletin no.1
31 July 2008
Belize: tropical storm Arthur - DREF bulletin update no.2
28 July 2008
Suriname: floods (MDRSR002) - Revised appeal
23 July 2008
Central America: hurricane Felix (MDR43002) - Revised Appeal
23 July 2008
Mexico: hurricane Dolly - Information bulletin no.1
11 July 2008
Bermuda: hurricane Bertha - Information bulletin no.1
7 July 2008
Surinam: floods (MDRSR002) - Operations update no.1
4 July 2008
Mexico: floods - Revised appeal no.MDRMX002
27 June 2008
Surinam: floods - Emergency appeal no.MDRSR002
20 June 2008
Surinam: floods - DREF bulletin no.MDRSR002
4 June 2008
Costa Rica and Nicaragua - Tropical storm Alma DREF bulletin no.MDR43003
30 May 2008
Central America: tropical storm Alma - Information bulletin no.1
Read more appeals and updates from the region
     
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