Fact sheet
Community of Wood Buffalo (CA), Alberta
In 2014, information on the emergency preparedness of people living in the Census AgglomerationNote 1 of Wood Buffalo was collected through the Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada (SEPR).Note 2 This fact sheet presents information on the risk awareness and level of emergency preparedness of the residents of Wood Buffalo, which could help improve the understanding of community resilience in the event of an emergency.Note 3Note 4Note 5
Risk awareness and anticipated sources of help in an emergency or disaster
- Winter storms (including blizzards, ice storms and extreme cold) (93%), wildfires (91%) and industrial or transportation accidents (87%) were named by residents of Wood Buffalo as the most likely events to occur in their community.
- Residents most commonly anticipated turning to police or law enforcement as an initial source for help and information if they were faced with rioting or civil unrest (46%) or an act of terrorism or terrorist threat (36%). They reported that they would turn to news on the radio in the event of an industrial or transportation accident (28%) or a weather-related emergency or natural disaster (26%) (Table 1.1).
- Residents also stated (53%) that hospitals, clinics, doctors and other medical professionals were the most commonly anticipated sources of initial help and information in the event of an outbreak of a serious or life-threatening disease. In the event of an extended power outage lasting 24 hours or longer, they most commonly said they would seek help from their utility company (47%), and in the event of a contamination or shortage of water or food, residents anticipated first turning to local government (40%).
Prior lifetime experience with a major emergency or disasterNote 6
- Close to four in ten (38%) Wood Buffalo residents has faced a major emergency or disaster in Canada in a community they were living in at the time of the event, two-thirds (66%) of whom reported experiencing severe disruptions to their daily activities as a result of the event.
- Floods (42%Note E: Use with caution) and wildfires (33%Note E: Use with caution) were the most commonly experienced emergencies or disasters by residents of Wood Buffalo.
- The most common types of disruption to daily activities endured by residents who had experienced major emergencies or disasters included missing work or school (64%), missing an appointment or planned activity (55%) and having to boil water for drinking or drink bottled water (40%Note E: Use with caution). More severe disruptions experienced were an inability to use roads or transportation within the community (32%Note E: Use with caution) and home evacuation (30%Note E: Use with caution).
- Close to three-quarters (72%) of residents who experienced an emergency or disaster were able to resume their daily activities within one week of the event; one-quarter (26%Note E: Use with caution) of whom reported resuming daily activities within three to five days.
- Six in ten (60%) residents who had experienced an emergency or disaster received help during or immediately following the event, most commonly from a family member (40%Note E: Use with caution) or local government (35%Note E: Use with caution).
- Approximately one-quarter (23%Note E: Use with caution) of residents of Wood Buffalo who experienced a major emergency or disaster in Canada in a community where they were living at the time of the event and which was significant enough to disrupt their regular daily routine also endured a loss of property or financial impact.
Emergency planning, precautionary and fire safety behaviours
- Seven in ten (71%) people residing in Wood Buffalo lived in households that were engaged in at least two emergency planning activities,Note 7 and more than four in ten (44%) lived in households with three or four such activities (Table 1.2). Around one in ten (9%Note E: Use with caution) people lived in a household that had not participated in any emergency planning activities.
- Nearly half (46%) lived in a household with at least two precautionary measuresNote 8 taken in case of an emergency, and less than one-quarter (22%) lived in a household with three or four such measures. Less than one-quarter (22%) of people lived in a household with no precautionary measures in place.
- The vast majority (98%) of residents reported living in a household with a working smoke detector, and approximately three-quarters (73%) reported living in a household with a working fire extinguisher (Table 1.3). Three-quarters (76%) of residents stated that they had a working carbon monoxide detector in their household. Six in ten (61%) of the residents of Wood Buffalo stated that they had implemented all three fire safety measures within their households.
- Generally, the number of emergency planning activities and precautionary measures taken by residents of Wood Buffalo did not significantly differ from residents of Alberta and Canada’s 10 provinces in general. Differences did exist, however, in terms of the number of fire safety measures taken. For instance, Wood Buffalo residents were more likely to have all three fire safety measures in place than residents of Alberta and Canada (61%, 48% and 42%, respectively).Note 9
- The types of activities and measures set in place by residents of Wood Buffalo did not generally differ compared to residents of Alberta and Canada. There were, however, a few exceptions. For instance, while Wood Buffalo residents were more likely to have a vehicle emergency supply kit (72%), they were less likely to have a wind-up or battery-operated radio (44%) compared to Canadians (59% and 58%, respectively). In addition, Wood Buffalo residents were more likely to have a working carbon monoxide detector (76%) and a working fire extinguisher (73%) than both residents of Alberta (65% each) and Canada (60% and 66%, respectively).
Social networks and sense of belonging
- Nearly half (47%) of Wood Buffalo’s residents had a strong sense of belongingNote 10 to their community.
- Most (79%) residents described the neighbourhood they lived in as a place where neighbours generally help each other.Note 11 Of those who did not describe their neighbourhood this way, most (78%) still described it as a place where neighbours would help each other in an emergency.Note 12
- Many individuals had a large network of support in the event of an emergency or disaster, with more than five people to turn to for help if physically injured (60%), for emotional support (59%), as well as in case of a home evacuation (53%). Over one-quarter (28%) of residents had a large support network if financial help was needed. However, 9%Note E: Use with caution reported that they had no one to turn to for financial help.Note 13
- Higher levels of sense of belonging, self-efficacy and neighbourhood trust, as well as civic engagement and involvement in political activities, were not often associated with a higher level of emergency preparedness (Table 1.4).
Data tables
Most common sources of initial help and information by type of emergency or disaster | percent |
---|---|
Weather-related emergency or natural disaster | |
News- Radio | 26 |
News- Internet | 20 |
Local government | 19 |
Extended power outages | |
Utility company | 47 |
News- Radio | 17Note E: Use with caution |
Local government | 17Note E: Use with caution |
Outbreak of serious or life-threatening disease | |
Hospital, clinic, doctor or other medical professional | 53 |
News- Radio | 19Note E: Use with caution |
News- Internet | 10Note E: Use with caution |
Industrial or transportation accident | |
News- Radio | 28 |
Police/law enforcement | 24 |
Local government | 18Note E: Use with caution |
Contamination or shortage of water or food | |
Local government | 40 |
News- Radio | 24Note E: Use with caution |
Family | 8Note E: Use with caution |
Act of terrorism or terrorist threat | |
Police/law enforcement | 36 |
News- Radio | 29 |
Local government | 15Note E: Use with caution |
Rioting or civil unrest | |
Police/law enforcement | 46 |
News- Radio | 25Note E: Use with caution |
E use with caution Note: Respondents who perceived their community was at risk for any form of emergency or disaster were then asked where they would turn to first for information or assistance in the event of the perceived emergency or disaster. Respondents could provide more than one response. Responses of 'don't know/not stated' are included in the total for the percentage calculation but are not footnoted when representing 5% or less of respondents. Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada, 2014. |
Number of planning activities, fire safety and precautionary measures taken by residents | Wood Buffalo | Alberta | Canada |
---|---|---|---|
percent | |||
Number of emergency planning activities | |||
None | 9Note E: Use with caution | 8 | 8 |
1 activity | 17Note E: Use with caution | 17 | 17 |
2 activities | 27 | 25 | 25 |
3 activities | 26 | 26 | 27 |
4 activities | 18 | 20 | 19 |
Number of precautionary measures | |||
None | 22Table 1.2, Note ** | 21 | 16 |
1 measure | 28 | 27 | 27 |
2 measures | 24 | 23 | 28 |
3 measures | 17Note E: Use with caution | 18 | 20 |
4 measures | 5Note E: Use with caution | 6 | 7 |
Number of fire safety measuresTable 1.2, Note 1Table 1.2, Note 2Table 1.2, Note 3 | |||
None | Note F: too unreliable to be published | 1Note E: Use with caution | 1 |
1 measure | 9Note E: Use with cautionTable 1.2, Note *** | 14 | 14 |
2 measures | 24Table 1.2, Note *** | 31 | 38 |
3 measures | 61Table 1.2, Note *** | 48 | 42 |
E use with caution F too unreliable to be published
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada, 2014. |
Residents whose households were involved in the following: | Wood Buffalo | Alberta | Canada |
---|---|---|---|
percent | |||
Emergency planning activities | |||
Emergency exit plan | 62 | 63 | 60 |
Exit plan has been practised/reviewed in last 12 monthsTable 1.3, Note 1 | 50 | 45 | 46 |
Designated meeting place for household membersTable 1.3, Note 2 | 31 | 33 | 33 |
Contact plan for household membersTable 1.3, Note 2 | 62 | 55 | 55 |
Household emergency supply kit | 45 | 43 | 47 |
Vehicle emergency supply kitTable 1.3, Note 3 | 72Table 1.3, Note ** | 69 | 59 |
Extra copies of important documents | 52 | 55 | 53 |
List of emergency contact numbers | 65 | 68 | 69 |
Plan for meeting special health needsTable 1.3, Note 4 | 73 | 64 | 62 |
Precautionary measures | |||
Wind-up or battery-operated radio | 44Table 1.3, Note ** | 49 | 58 |
Alternate heat source | 41 | 45 | 48 |
Back-up generator | 25 | 22 | 23 |
Alternate water source | 39 | 41 | 43 |
OtherTable 1.3, Note 5 | 21 | 17 | 21 |
Fire safety measures | |||
Working smoke detector | 98Table 1.3, Note * | 96 | 98 |
Working carbon monoxide detector | 76Table 1.3, Note *** | 65 | 60 |
Working fire extinguisher | 73Table 1.3, Note *** | 65 | 66 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada, 2014. |
Social and political involvement | Percentage of residents who had high or moderately high levels of... | ||
---|---|---|---|
Planning activities | Precautionary measures | Fire safety measures | |
percent | |||
Engagement in political activitiesTable 1.4, Note 1 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 47 | 25 | 64 |
No | 34Note E: Use with caution | Note F: too unreliable to be published | 65 |
High level of civic engagementTable 1.4, Note 2 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 47 | 24Note E: Use with caution | 67 |
No | 39 | 21Note E: Use with caution | 63 |
High level of social supportTable 1.4, Note 3 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 53 | 32Note E: Use with caution | 76 |
NoTable 1.4, Note 7 | 42 | 19Note E: Use with caution | 58Table 1.4, Note * |
Strong sense of belonging to communityTable 1.4, Note 4 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 47 | 21Note E: Use with caution | 66 |
NoTable 1.4, Note 7 | 42 | 24Note E: Use with caution | 59 |
High neighbourhood trustTable 1.4, Note 5 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 50 | 25Note E: Use with caution | 64 |
NoTable 1.4, Note 7 | 43 | 22Note E: Use with caution | 62 |
High level of self-efficacyTable 1.4, Note 6 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 48 | 27Note E: Use with caution | 66 |
No | 41 | 18Note E: Use with caution | 60 |
E use with caution F too unreliable to be published
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada, 2014. |
Notes
E use with caution
- Date modified: