Cite this article：
Bogdan, E., Krueger, R., Wright, J. et al. Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Among Older Adults in Canada Regarding Floods, Wildfires, and Earthquakes. Int J Disaster Risk Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-024-00555-9
加拿大老年人对洪水、野火和地震的灾害意识和备灾情况
Evalyna Bogdan, Rachel Krueger, Julie Wright, Kyle Woods & Shaieree Cottar
摘要：
老年人受到自然灾害的严重影响，而气候变化又加剧了这些影响。了解他们的灾害意识和备灾情况对于提高灾害恢复力至关重要。本研究调查了老年人对其所在地区（特别是加拿大的洪水、野火和地震）构成风险的自然致灾因子的态度、行动和建议。本文的研究方法包括对加拿大各地易受这些自然灾害影响的老年人（和其他高风险群体）进行调查（161人）和焦点小组讨论（10人）。本文研究的主要发现是，目前老年人对风险的认识和防备程度较低，但对受访者所居住的地理位置特有的风险有较强的感知。一些障碍，如对灾害脆弱性的误解、与防灾成本相关的原因以及缺乏灾害意识，导致这些人群的防灾意识和备灾程度较低。本研究提出的两项主要建议是 (1) 为老年人量身定制应急备灾资源，提高他们的灾害意识和备灾程度；(2) 通过现有的社区团体，采取以社区为基础的备灾方法，加强社会联系，重点关注当地特定的灾害。这项研究的结果也可应用于其他灾害，包括热浪和大流行病。
关键词：
加拿大；以社区为基础的灾害风险管理；灾害意识与备灾；灾害恢复力；自然灾害；老年人
Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Among Older Adults in Canada Regarding Floods, Wildfires, and Earthquakes
Evalyna Bogdan, Rachel Krueger, Julie Wright, Kyle Woods & Shaieree Cottar
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.
Keywords：
Canada, Community-based disaster risk management, Disaster awareness and preparedness, Disaster resilience, Natural hazards, Older adults
文章链接：
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13753-024-00555-9
