Overview
The annual Preparedness Survey of Albertans measures preparedness knowledge and actions across the province. The results are weighted to reflect age, gender and ethnicity across Alberta.
The survey helps the emergency management community understand levels of preparedness, identify potential gaps or weaknesses, and develop strategies to address and better meet the needs of individuals and communities in the province.
When community members are prepared for disruption, it means:
- emergency workers can focus on responding to disasters and getting situations under control faster
- emergency social services can provide support to the most vulnerable populations
- impacts of disasters are reduced so people can get back to their lives and work sooner
Although the annual survey is conducted by the Alberta government, it will take a collective effort to drive change:
- Alberta is a large province, with a variety of hazards and a population with varying needs, abilities and knowledge.
- The Alberta government created the Be Prepared program to help community leaders build resilience at the local level.
- By working together, we can raise Albertans' risk literacy and encourage disaster risk reduction behaviour in our province.
2024 survey findings
Read the annual survey results.
A significant number of Albertans remain unprepared for emergencies, with many expressing that they lack the necessary knowledge to improve their preparedness.
- There was a slight decrease in the number of people taking preparedness actions in 2024 compared to 2023.
- They are still less prepared when compared to 2021.
- Lack of information remains the top barrier to preparedness actions, followed by financial constraints, consistent across all years surveyed (2021–2024). Awareness of the Be Prepared program has increased to 14%, up from 11% in 2023.
The 2024 survey, conducted in July, followed significant events like the Calgary water main break and Jasper wildfires. These events may have influenced respondents’ concerns.
Disaster risk literacy
Disaster risk literacy is being able to understand and recognize potential hazards. This can include both:
- physical risks – such as the possibility of a train derailment or tornado
- more abstract risks – like the possibility of losing access to funds via debit or credit cards due to systems outages
Risk literacy is being aware of possible risks and knowing how likely they are and how bad they could be. This knowledge helps us take appropriate risk reduction actions.
The top 4 hazards of concern in 2024 are:
- power or water outages
- extreme heat
- severe drought
- extreme cold, a blizzard, freezing rain or ice storm
The top hazard concern varies by region:
- Northern Alberta – wildfires and power outages
- Central Alberta – power or water outages and severe drought
- Eastern Alberta – power or water outages
- Southern Alberta – severe drought
Learn about how to prepare for common hazards in Alberta.
Risk reduction behaviours
Risk reduction behaviour refers to actions that individuals or communities can take to reduce the impact of a disaster, emergency or disruption. While not all impacts may be harmful, they may cause significant disruption to daily life.
Risk reduction behaviours can include things like:
- creating emergency plans
- applying FireSmart to your property
- practicing emergency drills
The top 3 preparedness behaviours were to:
- get informed – 60% proactively sign-up for messaging before an emergency occurs (example: download the Alberta Emergency Alert app)
- get insurance – 44% have proper insurance
- gather supplies – 43% have enough supplies to shelter in place
Learn how you can educate your community at Resources for your community.
Risk reduction motivators
Risk reduction motivators are what drive individuals or communities to take action to reduce their risk of harm. These motivators can include both:
- external factors – such as government regulations or insurance requirements
- internal factors – such as a personal desire to protect oneself and one's loved ones
The 2024 survey confirms:
- Self-reliance is the largest motivator to take preparedness action.
- Lack of information is the top reason for not being more prepared.
Mitigation at home
Taking steps to protect your home and property from potential damage or loss due to disasters is a crucial part of preparedness. Mitigation at home refers to making home improvements that reduce the impact of hazards such as extreme weather, wildfires, and floods.
Home mitigation can include actions like installing fire-resistant materials, reinforcing windows and doors, or clearing vegetation around the home to reduce wildfire risk. Simple measures, such as sealing windows and doors to prevent water damage or installing backup power supplies, can help homeowners better protect their property.
The 2024 Survey confirms that:
- 58% of homeowners have not and do not plan to make home improvements to protect their property
- 8% of homeowners have completed some protective improvements
- 12% of Albertans have started making improvements to mitigate damage or loss.
- the most common barrier remains financial, with 45% of homeowners citing cost as the main reason
Contact
Connect with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-422-9000
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]