Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Among Older Adults in Canada Regarding Floods, Wildfires, and Earthquakes

Evalyna Bogdan; Rachel Krueger; Julie Wright; Kyle Woods; Shaieree Cottar

doi:10.1007/s13753-024-00555-9

Volume 15 Issue 2

Apr. 2024

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Evalyna Bogdan, Rachel Krueger, Julie Wright, Kyle Woods, Shaieree Cottar. Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Among Older Adults in Canada Regarding Floods, Wildfires, and Earthquakes[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2024, 15(2): 198-212. doi: 10.1007/s13753-024-00555-9

Citation:

Evalyna Bogdan, Rachel Krueger, Julie Wright, Kyle Woods, Shaieree Cottar. Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Among Older Adults in Canada Regarding Floods, Wildfires, and Earthquakes[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2024, 15(2): 198-212. doi: 10.1007/s13753-024-00555-9

Citation:

Evalyna Bogdan, Rachel Krueger, Julie Wright, Kyle Woods, Shaieree Cottar. Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Among Older Adults in Canada Regarding Floods, Wildfires, and Earthquakes[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2024, 15(2): 198-212. doi: 10.1007/s13753-024-00555-9

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Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Among Older Adults in Canada Regarding Floods, Wildfires, and Earthquakes

doi: 10.1007/s13753-024-00555-9

1. School of Administrative Studies, Disaster and Emergency Management Program, York University, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada;
2. Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada;
3. Partners for Action, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada

Funds:

A research project on Inclusive Resilience informed this article, which was undertaken by Partners for Action (P4A) in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross and made possible with funding by Public Safety Canada.

Accepted Date: 2024-04-04

Available Online: 2024-10-26

Publish Date: 2024-04-19

Abstract

Abstract

Older adults are significantly impacted by natural hazards and disasters that are exacerbated by climate change. Understanding their awareness and preparedness is essential for enhancing disaster resilience. This study investigated the attitudes, actions, and recommendations of older adults regarding natural hazards that pose risks in their geographic area—specifically floods, wildfires, and/or earthquakes in Canada. Methods for this study included survey and focus groups with older adults (n = 161 and n = 10, respectively) and other high-risk groups from across Canada, that are vulnerable to these natural hazards. The main findings from this study are that current awareness and preparedness among older adults is low, though stronger perceptions of risks are associated with risks specific to geographic locations where respondents live. Several barriers, such as hazard vulnerability misperceptions, cost-related reasons, and lack of hazard awareness have resulted in low awareness and preparedness among these populations. The two main recommendations arising from this research are: (1) improve awareness and preparedness with tailor-made emergency preparedness materials for older adults; and (2) adopt community-based approaches to disaster preparedness through existing community groups to strengthen social connections with a focus on locally specific hazards. The findings from this research can be applied to other hazards, including heatwaves and pandemics.
- Canada,
- Community-based disaster risk management,
- Disaster awareness and preparedness,
- Disaster resilience,
- Natural hazards,
- Older adults

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References(69)

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