Lunenburg Part 2 - Section 5 - Social Vulnerability - August 30.pdf

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A representative of REMO noted that limited time and resources are constraints to emergency planning in the District – REMO has no full time staff, and no single department or group is involved in emergency management on a day-to-day basis. Consultees noted that retirees who had been active in emergency management are not necessarily replaced. However, local governments are supportive and involved in emergency management; residents frequently contact their councilor in the case of road access problems due to snow, or long term power outages. There is very strong community involvement in the District’s Volunteer Fire Departments; fire halls are important community gathering-places, and consultees mentioned that most local people have at least one relative on the fire department. Summer residents are generally much less involved in emergency management efforts. Consultees unanimously agreed that local fire departments are very knowledgeable about their communities, and offer excellent service. Fire departments work to prepare residents for anticipated weather events, such as in Petite Riviere, where warning fliers are distributed, and the fire hall opened the day prior to an expected storm. In the event of a severe storm, Fire Halls are opened as comfort stations as early as 12 hours following the event, although they are only required to provide this service after 72 hours. Consultees noted that local fire departments have very good knowledge about areas at risk, those with access problems, and local residents that may require assistance. Challenges for local fire departments include aging facilities that may experience storm damage; some may also be located in hazardous locations themselves, such as the Petite Riviere Fire department, which is located on the Petite River, and requires sandbagging in the event of very heavy rainfall. Department members also noted that their volunteer status can be limiting: they lack the authority to close a road due to safety concerns if falling trees or high winds cause damage to power lines. Consultees felt that the experience of minor events, such as long power outages, has helped to prepare residents and emergency managers for the possibility of a more serious situation; however, other storms that were expected to cause serious damage, but ultimately weakened before impacting the area, may have generated a false sense of invulnerability amongst some residents. Some consultees recounted that residents may refuse to evacuate in advance of a storm, some staying to storm-watch or even swim in the ocean during a hurricane, placing themselves in avoidable peril. Community Consultees described a strong sense of community in the District of Lunenburg, challenged by its being spread over a large area. Councilors are engaged with their communities, and the current mayor holds a town hall meeting in each district on an annual basis. Communities have an ethos of ‘looking after their own,’ and consultees felt that neighbours would be aware of community members who might require assistance, and would provide help to those residents. In some of its activities, the District of Lunenburg adopts a similar approach; the recreation department has a policy of ‘for the community, by the community,’ and does not build facilities or infrastructure until the community asks for it. Comfort centres that function during and after storm events are also community-organized, not operated by REMO. While these indicators of community involvement are positive signs of healthy communities, reliance on neighbours to be aware of residents that may require assistance, and on communities to advocate for their own needs, may neglect the needs of some residents. Socially vulnerable residents are less likely to feel entitled to community services, and may be unaware of available channels to advocate for their own needs. Those at risk of being overlooked include 66
new residents, seasonal residents, and marginalized groups. Some of these residents may be unknown to communities who might otherwise be happy to help; others may not be wellaccepted in their community, and lack social networks and resources. Some consultees described long-running rivalry amongst various communities in the District, as well as bias against new residents, particularly those that do not comply with established social norms. These attitudes could lead to exclusion, and increased social vulnerability of excluded groups and individuals. Additionally, some consultees noted lower levels of overall community involvement and volunteerism than in the past; community events like suppers and gardens parties at churches and community halls are organized mainly by seniors, who are not necessarily being replaced by younger volunteers when they are no longer able to do this work. One consultee noted that while young people may be doing volunteer work, this work may not be related to their immediate community. Consultees also noted that while rural residents are less reliant on municipal resources than urban residents, the localization of services in the Towns of Bridgewater and Lunenburg, and loss of small businesses and services in the District’s smaller communities, has reduced the ability of these communities to be self-sufficient. Socially Vulnerable Populations When asked about their understanding of social vulnerability in the District of Lunenburg, consultees spoke about seniors, new and seasonal residents, residents with low income, single parents, and issues to do with access or isolation, housing, and food security. Overall, consultees indicated that socially vulnerable populations are quite dispersed throughout the District, rather than being concentrated in particular areas. Seniors Consultees remarked at the high proportion of seniors in the District, and identified the elderly as a particularly vulnerable group. Mahone Bay, Oakland, Prince’s Inlet, New Germany, Riverport, Kingsburg, and Green Bay were all identified as areas with large senior populations. Some older residents could have knowledge of local weather patterns and previous experience of extreme weather events that would help them to anticipate adverse effects. They may also have experienced a lifestyle in which families and small communities were more self-sufficient than younger residents, especially those accustomed to urban living. However, other senior residents are newcomers to the area, and may originate from urban areas; therefore they may be equally as inexperienced as younger residents with regard to storm events. Some consultees expressed concern about seniors homes, such as in Mahone Bay, and homes for people with special needs, such as in Petite Riviere, where road access could be problematic. All consultees agreed that local fire departments have an excellent awareness of the locations of these types of facilities. REMO is also compiling a list of medically at-risk individuals. New and Seasonal Residents Consultees felt that new and seasonal residents are a high-risk group in the event of a natural hazard. These residents may not be as involved in community activities and emergency planning as long-standing residents, and may not be aware of emergency procedures or organizations and services that provide assistance. New residents may also lack knowledge about local weather patterns, and therefore place themselves at risk. 67
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Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutio
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And, thank you to the many resident
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The District’s extensive and irre
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OAKLAND 61 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FE
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Introduction Social vulnerability r
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and over time. This creates a justi
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also emphasize the need for detaile
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Data Interpretation: Analysis For e
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maps of equal or superior quality t
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person’s employment improves and
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as providing valid information. She
Page 23 and 24: communication and collective action
Page 25 and 26: alone are particularly vulnerable i
Page 27 and 28: marginalization, limiting their acc
Page 29 and 30: disability in the event of a natura
Page 31 and 32: The prevalence of low income is a p
Page 33 and 34: Field Observations Travelling throu
Page 35 and 36: Average results for Nova Scotia are
Page 37 and 38: Next, the results from Table 3 are
Page 39 and 40: Figure 4. Social Vulnerability in t
Page 41 and 42: Seniors are more likely than other
Page 43 and 44: Figure 5. Storm Surge Scenarios in
Page 45 and 46: The Petite Riviere Bridge Several b
Page 47 and 48: This may reflect the Very High prop
Page 49 and 50: Table 7. Areas Requiring Attention
Page 51 and 52: Table 9. Areas Requiring Attention
Page 53 and 54: The area’s relatively high popula
Page 55 and 56: A High proportion of residents are
Page 57 and 58: An Average level of residents are s
Page 59 and 60: pharmacies, for medical services. I
Page 61 and 62: Figure 7: Storm Surge Scenarios wit
Page 63 and 64: The Plan also addresses the need fo
Page 65 and 66: A related ICSP strategic goal is to
Page 67 and 68: While the Economic Development Stra
Page 69 and 70: Oakland The Oakland Secondary Plann
Page 71 and 72: to maintain existing conditions and
Page 73: patterns and potential dangers (“
Page 77 and 78: vulnerabilities for individuals wit
Page 79 and 80: Two coastal dissemination areas hav
Page 81 and 82: about this program and use their kn
Page 83 and 84: Groome, P. (2010). Census Changes H
Page 85 and 86: Appendix A: Annotated Bibliography
Page 87 and 88: and analyzed using a Decision Tree
Page 89 and 90: Dolan, A.H., and I.J. Walker. “Un
Page 91 and 92: in health care or mitigating socioe
Page 93 and 94: Appendix B: Table of Indicators and
Page 95 and 96: No Secondary Education Adger et al.
Page 97 and 98: Appendix C: Maps of Profile by Indi
Page 99 and 100: Government Transfer Payments This s
Page 101 and 102: Children The District has a Below A
Page 103 and 104: Seniors Living Alone The District h
Page 105 and 106: No Secondary Education Social vulne
Page 107 and 108: dissemination areas where no reside
Page 109 and 110: Visible Minorities The District of
Page 111 and 112: Appendix D: Radar Diagrams for each
Page 113 and 114: 105
Page 115 and 116: DA 82 DA 83 Aboriginal Identity Vis
Page 117 and 118: DA 123 DA 124 Aboriginal Identity V
Page 119 and 120: DA 160 DA 161 Aboriginal Identity V
Page 121 and 122: Mahone Bay Food Bank Hospital, Long
Page 123: South Shore Big Brothers Big Sister
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Lunenburg Part 2 - Section 5 - Social Vulnerability - August 30.pdf

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