Research shows that communities who have established strong social connections before an emergency often experience better outcomes following the emergency, including reduced impacts and recovery time. If affected, your community members are the first to lend a hand, as well as the last, as you rebuild your community together. However, the 2025 Preparedness Survey of Albertans reports that only 12% of Albertans have an established community support system. Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week, a national campaign dedicated to building risk literacy and community resilience, takes place May 3-9 this year and will be focused on the steps to make community connections, including:
- Defining community
- Identifying everyday opportunities to make connections
- Learning who is in your community, including the skills, knowledge and resources you could share
- Learning who community connections play a role during and after an emergency
- We all have a role to play in emergency preparedness—but if we work together, we are more resilient.
We’re In It Together—before, during and after an emergency. Visit Alberta’s Be Prepared program’s dedicated EP Week webpage at www.alberta.ca/EPWeek for more information and resources to share in your household, community and workplace.
Strengthening community and Indigenous partnerships alongside intermunicipal collaboration and provincial-municipal collaboration are key recommendations in RMA’s Wildfire Working Group Report and the Alberta Wildfire Mitigation Strategy. Stronger partnerships and intergovernmental collaboration can support preparedness, response and recovery measures across a range of emergency situations. As Alberta heads into another wildfire season, RMA will continue to advocate for adequate representation and support in the implementation of recommendations.
Briana Yee
Policy Advisor
825.319.2417
briana@RMAlberta.com
Warren Noga
Manager of Policy and Research
825.319.2285
warren@rmalberta.com