First Nations Wildfire Evacuations: A Guide for Communities and External Agencies

by Tara K. McGee, Amy Cardinal Christianson, First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership

Overview

Wildfires pose a greater threat than ever before—and the threat is particularly acute for under-resourced communities. Drawing on interviews with more than two hundred evacuees from recent fires, First Nations Wildfire Evacuations provides invaluable guidance on how indigenous communities and external agencies can best prepare for evacuation. Tara McGee and Amy Christianson outline how to plan for a number of contingencies—including when to stage a partial or full evacuation, how to troubleshoot transportation problems, best practices for proactive communication with the community, and specific suggestions for planning meals and activities while away. Complete with checklists and discussion questions, this guide is an indispensable resource for any region at risk of fire.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780774880664
Publisher:	University of British Columbia Press
Publication date:	03/03/2021
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Tara K. McGee is a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta.

Table of Contents

Foreword Chad Day vi

Preface xi

Community Partners xv

Introduction 1

1 Deciding to Evacuate 13

2 Putting a Plan in Motion 31

3 Troubleshooting Transportation 49

4 Finding Accommodations 69

5 Taking Care of Evacuees 85

6 Returning Home 105

A Note on the Partnership 123

Acknowledgments 137

Further Resources and References 141

Index 145

Editorial Reviews

Combining research and the powerful voices of community members, this book provides a holistic approach to wildfire evacuations. It is an important resource not only for First Nations, but for any community wanting to plan for any kind of emergency evacuation.”—Amber MacLean-Hawes, emergency management project manager, Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq


“We have seen fire evacuations on the news and read reports of confusion, panic, and trauma both during and after these evacuations. McGee, Christianson, and their colleagues enable First Nation communities to tell their stories, while also rigorously analyzing successes, failures, and lessons learned. If future reports show better-run and less stressful evacuations, it may well be because community leaders and emergency managers have read this book.”—Stephen Wyatt, Université de Moncton

From the Publisher

We have seen fire evacuations on the news and read reports of confusion, panic, and trauma both during and after these evacuations. McGee, Christianson, and their colleagues enable First Nation communities to tell their stories, while also rigorously analyzing successes, failures, and lessons learned. If future reports show better-run and less stressful evacuations, it may well be because community leaders and emergency managers have read this book.

Stephen Wyatt

Combining research and the powerful voices of community members, this book provides a holistic approach to wildfire evacuations. It is an important resource not only for First Nations, but for any community wanting to plan for any kind of emergency evacuation.

Amber MacLean-Hawes