Red Cross ready as Pacific cyclone season gets underway

With Cyclone Wati hitting the Cook Islands over the weekend, the Pacific cyclone season has made an early start. 

New Zealand Red Cross will be closely monitoring for potential impacts from tropical cyclones over the coming months, working alongside Pacific Red Cross societies to strengthen disaster preparedness and provide support when it's needed most. 

This year's cyclone season, which runs from November to April, is expected to bring seven to eleven named tropical cyclones across the Southwest Pacific, with at least four potentially reaching Category 3 or higher. 

The latest outlook predicts normal to above-normal cyclone activity, with an increased risk of impacts in parts of the central, northern and eastern Pacific. 

Vivienne Euini, Director of International Operations at New Zealand Red Cross, says good emergency response starts with good preparedness. “Pacific Red Cross societies prepare for cyclone season throughout the year, working alongside local authorities and communities to make sure people know what to do before, during and after a disaster.

“Local preparedness is particularly important in the Pacific, where communities are spread across vast distances and many people live on remote islands. When a cyclone hits, outside help can take time to arrive, so having trained local volunteers who can respond immediately makes a huge difference.” 

Vivienne says New Zealand Red Cross works closely with Pacific Red Cross societies to strengthen their ability to prepare for and respond to disasters. “We support our Pacific partners to build the skills, systems and resources they need to respond effectively when disasters happen. This work happens throughout the year, so they're ready to act when their communities need them. 

“We also help pre-position essential relief supplies across the Pacific, including household items for families whose homes and livelihoods have been affected by disasters.

“Having these supplies already in place means communities don't have to wait days for vital assistance to arrive. Combined with strong local preparedness, this can make a real difference when a cyclone strikes.”

Help Pacific communities prepare for disasters. Donate now to New Zealand Red Cross to help strengthen communities across the Pacific.

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Header image: A member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies holds a child during an IFRC emergency drill in Fiji.