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Articles on Disaster management

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People receive crates of water in the aftermath of earthquakes in the Samandag district of Hatay, Turkey. Erdem Sahin/EPA

How political issues hindered Turkey’s 2023 earthquake response

Social workers encountered challenges in providing their services in the aftermath of the Turkey earthquakes, facing obstacles outside of their control.
Disasters affect all, human and non-human alike. It is imperative that we consider the harms to non-human life and ecosystems as both a moral obligation and a realistic effort to preserve the ecosystem services upon which we all rely. (Jesse Brothers/Sioux City Journal via AP)

Why we must address the interconnected harms to people, animals and ecosystems in train derailments

Focusing solely on humans at the expense of other life in the aftermath of train derailments limits the effectiveness of our disaster response management.
The aftermath of a 2021 fire disaster in an abandoned building in central Johannesburg. Photo by Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images via Getty Images

Johannesburg fire: there was a plan to fix derelict buildings and provide good accommodation - how to move forward

Armed police interventions are unconstitutional and incapable of addressing housing and safety in the inner city.
People without vehicles line up in Yellowknife to register for a flight to Alberta; residents were ordered to evacuate the area because of encroaching wildfire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

Yellowknife fires: Evacuees will need culturally specific support services

As the mass evacuation of Yellowknife unfolds, the needs of minority populations will emerge. Past experiences indicate emergency officials may not be ready to meet the needs of a diverse population.
Thick plumes of heavy smoke fill the Halifax sky as an out-of-control fire in a suburban community quickly spreads, engulfing multiple homes and forcing the evacuation of local residents on May 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Clark

Wildfire preparedness and response must include planning for unhoused people and other vulnerable populations

There is an alarming lack of disaster preparedness plans in Canada that consider the unique risks and needs of unhoused people during wildfires.
The Bald Mountain Wildfire in the Grande Prairie area in Alberta in May 2023. Much of B.C. and Alberta is already experiencing higher-than-usual wildfire risk. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Government of Alberta Fire Service

As we fight the Alberta and B.C. wildfires, we must also plan for future disasters

High-risk, high-uncertainty events like earthquakes tend to fall out of view when we are occupied with more predictable seasonal events like wildfires, which have very visible effects on our lives.

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