Emergency Evacuation Survey Results

Submitted by Marion Gauzer on behalf of the Emergency Evacuation Planning group

In order to understand the needs, concerns and insights of co-op members, as well as the facts surrounding the 2013 flood, the Emergency Evacuation Planning group created a survey to help in planning for future emergency evacuations.  We received 15 completed surveys.  Of all the members who responded, all 15 were living at the co-op during the flood of 2013.  Here are some of the most notable findings:

1. Eighty percent of respondents were home at the time they received notice of the evacuation.

2. About 13 percent had more than two hours notice to evacuate; 47 percent had between one and two hours; 40 percent had less than half an hour.

3. Forty percent of respondents received notification through a co-op member or news media (20 percent each); most of the rest of members who responded received notice through a family member or friend, social media, emergency personnel (about 13.5 percent each); one member received notice through word of mouth.

4. Eighty percent of respondents evacuated by car, 13.5 by walking, and one respondent was out of town.

5. Regarding evacuation assistance, respondents were able to select more than one response:

   1. Eighty-seven percent of respondents received assistance from a family member; 53 percent from a friend; 47 percent from a co-op member and/or emergency personnel; other assistance came from friends, co-workers, other neighbours.

   2. Three members did not have any assistance while evacuating.

6. We had 10 responses to a question asking what other kinds of assistance would have helped members evacuate:

   1. The most common response was that more time or notice would have helped.  

   2. Other kinds of assistance that might have helped included:

      1. more information about the severity of the flood,

      2. a vehicle or party bus,

      3. a list of items to bring,

      4. help finding a place to stay, and

      5. knowing what to pack/plan for.

   3. One respondent preferred not to bother others.

   4. One respondent didn’t need any more help.

7. Transportation challenges respondents experienced included:

   1. Road closures

   2. Slow moving traffic

   3. Feeling panicked while stuck in traffic and worrying

   4. No vehicle—walking out with dog that had just had surgery

   5. Respondents also mentioned a van was available from a church to U of C housing; some felt lucky to have a vehicle that would fit all their family and pets.

   6. One respondent thought that planned departure times would have alleviated anxiety and provided extra time to prepare.

8. Almost 80 percent had a place to go to at the time of evacuation, the rest of respondents did not.

9. Most respondents (80 percent) took any pets with them to where they were staying, with the rest leaving pets with family members, dropping them at a City of Calgary Animal Services facility or leaving their pets in their units.

10. Respondents received information/updates about the co-op and communicated with other members during the evacuation:

    1. by phone, Facebook and/or email (64 percent),

    2. other social media (17 percent), and

    3. other (0.00 percent)

11. These are some of the things that worked well for respondents:

    1. Helpful relatives

    2. Staying calm

    3. Previous emergency response training

    4. Obeying the order to evacuate

    5. Being at home at the time the evacuation order was given

    6. Having important information available

    7. Sunnyside neighbours and Calgarians who helped

    8. Having a place to stay that would allow respondents to bring pets

    9. Having more than one place to stay to accommodate all family members

    10. Being able to stay in touch with other evacuated members to touch base and start planning for return to co-op home

    11. Supportive friends

    12. U of C housing (great!)

    13. Being able to find a place to stay and a place for pets

12. These are some of the things respondents thought would have worked better:

    1. More notice, longer lead time

    2. More preparation on the part of the co-op and members

    3. More time to move belongings from basement to upper floors

    4. Better access to the co-op’s Facebook page

    5. Having an email/phone tree with all members’ contact information to find out if all members were safe and accounted for and had transportation and a place to go to

    6. Earlier notification from the city

    7. Transportation available for everyone

    8. Better co-op communication

13. One hundred percent of respondents would be willing to supply the office with emergency contact information and 92 percent would be willing to supply the board with the same.

We wish to thank all the co-op residents who took the time to complete this survey and offer their feedback.