City on Fire

Sauve, Michel

doi:10.7326/m16-1384

Cited by 2 publications

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“…2 The only hospital in the remote northern region was evacuated on 4 hours’ notice, along with just under 100,000 people, for the next 5 weeks. 3 A total of 3,600 staff and physicians were directly and indirectly involved in this wildfire response, an incident that cost the local healthcare organization $13.5 million prior to insurance and disaster recovery submissions. 4 In the spring of 2020, the same hospital came perilously close to being evacuated again, this time due to a 100-year flood, 5 while concurrently operating under COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healthcare and successive natural disasters: Lessons still to be learned

Sauve,

Bly,

Francescutti

2023

Healthc Manage Forum

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This article explores the increasing impact of natural disasters on healthcare leadership and disaster preparedness, particularly in Fort McMurray, Alberta. It underscores the importance of building disaster resilience in healthcare, distinguishing between emergencies, disasters, and catastrophes, and advocating for a multi-dimensional resilience approach. The need for robust electronic communication channels and comprehensive family-oriented evacuation plans, considering family and pet safety, is emphasized. The protection of vulnerable patients, the importance of resilient healthcare infrastructure, and dedicated protective equipment for first responders are also discussed. The article highlights the critical role of government support in flood prevention and disaster preparedness. Through the experiences of Fort McMurray, the article demonstrates the necessity of comprehensive disaster planning and the crucial role of healthcare systems in rapid recovery and adaptation in the face of disasters. It aims to contribute to an improved understanding and strategies for managing such critical situations in the future.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healthcare and successive natural disasters: Lessons still to be learned

Sauve,

Bly,

Francescutti

2023

Healthc Manage Forum

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“…A fluctuating population of roughly 20 000 living in work camps was also threatened by the fire. Apart from a personal account of the evacuation of the hospital, 1 we are not aware of any publication on the health impacts of the fire. Previous investigations of disasters in Canada have not focused on workers.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of the Fort McMurray wildfires on the health of evacuated workers: follow-up of 2 cohorts

Cherry

Haynes

2017

CMAJ Open

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Background: Wildfire engulfed Fort McMurray, Alberta on May 3, 2016, leading to a total evacuation. Access to 2 active cohorts allowed us to rapidly assess health effects in those evacuated. Methods:People working in Fort McMurray who had been recruited before the fire for 2 occupational health cohort studies completed a questionnaire (online or via telephone) 3-26 weeks after evacuation. The questionnaire asked about respiratory and mental health and experiences since the fire. Results:Of the 129 participants, 109 were in the Fort McMurray area on May 3. Thirty-seven (33.9%) of the participants who were in Fort McMurray on May 3 reported a health condition, including respiratory symptoms (n = 17) and mental ill health (n = 17), immediately after the fire. At follow-up, a mean of 102 days after the fire, 11 participants (10.1%) reported a fire-related health condition, including mental ill health (n = 8) and respiratory symptoms (n = 2). There was no difference before and after the fire in use of alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs or medication. One in 4 participants (32 [24.6%]) had not worked since the fire, and fewer than half (58 [44.6%]) had returned to Fort McMurray. Of the 90 participants evacuated, 15 (16.7%) had scores indicative of moderate or severe anxiety or depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Those evacuated had significantly higher mean anxiety (p = 0.01) and depression (p = 0.04) scores than those not evacuated. Regression modelling showed that anxiety scores were higher for women, with longer time since the fire and with evacuation to a motel. Depression scores were higher for women and with financial loss because of lack of work. Interpretation:Although evacuation was associated with higher anxiety and depression scores, persisting ill health was not widespread at early follow-up after the fire. Although these results are encouraging, these "healthy worker" results cannot be generalized to all evacuees. Abstract ResearchResearch CMAJ OPEN CMAJ OPEN, 5(3) E639

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City on Fire

Cited by 2 publications

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Healthcare and successive natural disasters: Lessons still to be learned

Healthcare and successive natural disasters: Lessons still to be learned

Effects of the Fort McMurray wildfires on the health of evacuated workers: follow-up of 2 cohorts

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