Vancouverites are taking steps to prepare for earthquakes, wildfire smoke and other emergencies, but say they need clearer information and stronger community ties to feel truly ready, according to a new study by the University of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver.
Vancouverites are taking steps to prepare for earthquakes, wildfire smoke and other emergencies, but say they need clearer information and stronger community ties to feel truly ready, according to a new study by the University of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver.
The study, led by UBC’s Disaster Resilience Research Network in partnership with the City of Vancouver Emergency Management Agency, surveyed nearly 3,000 residents and held six focus groups to explore how people perceive risk and prepare for disasters.
Nearly 70 per cent said they had emergency supplies or savings set aside, and more than 65 per cent planned to take two or more preparedness actions in the coming year—from packing essentials to downloading Alertable, the emergency alert app used by the City. Yet almost one-third said their biggest obstacle was finding information, and that rose to nearly 40 per cent among non-English speakers.
Read more at: University of British Columbia
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