Fact sheet
Community of Shawinigan (CA), Quebec
In 2014, information on the emergency preparedness of people living in the Census AgglomerationNote 1 of Shawinigan was collected through the Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada (SEPR).Note 2 This fact sheet presents information on the risk awareness and level of emergency preparedness of the residents of Shawinigan, which could help improve the understanding of community resilience in the event of an emergency.Note 3Note 4
Risk awareness and anticipated sources of help in an emergency or disaster
- Residents of Shawinigan anticipated winter storms (including blizzards, ice storms and extreme cold) (84%), extended power outages lasting 24 hours or longer (72%) and heat waves (66%) to be the most likely emergency-type events to occur within their community.
- Residents anticipated turning to the police as an initial source for help and information if they were faced with rioting or civil unrest (60%), an act of terrorism or terrorist threat (48%) or a weather-related emergency or natural disaster (28%). Calling 911 (35%) was the most commonly anticipated source of initial help if an industrial or transportation accident were to occur (Table 1.1). In the event of an extended power outage, utility companies (72%) were most commonly anticipated to be the first source of help and information, whereas hospitals, clinics, doctors or other medical professionals (81%) were the most commonly anticipated sources of initial help and information in the event of an outbreak of a serious or life-threatening disease. Residents of Shawinigan anticipated turning to their local government (57%) as an initial source of help and information in the event of a contamination or shortage of water or food.
Prior lifetime experience with a major emergency or disasterNote 5
- One in four (25%) residents of Shawinigan had personally experienced a major emergency or disaster in Canada within a community where they were living at the time. Close to two-thirds (63%) of these people had experienced emergencies that were severe enough to disrupt their regular daily activities.
- Winter storms including blizzards and ice storms were the most common type of emergency or disaster experienced by residents (46%), followed by extended power outages (21%Note E: Use with caution).
- Residents who were affected by a major emergency or disaster most often experienced an inability to use electrical appliances (64%), an inability to use water at home for routine tasks (49%) and a need to miss school or work (41%) as a result. More serious implications such as home evacuation (25%Note E: Use with caution) and the inability to use roads or transportation within the community (20%Note E: Use with caution) were less commonly experienced.
- Two-thirds (68%) of victims of major emergencies or disasters were able to resume their daily activities within one week of the event; half of residents (50%) were able to resume activities within two days.
- About half (48%) of residents who were affected by major emergencies received help either during or immediately following the event, most commonly from family members (45%Note E: Use with caution).Note 6
- Just over one-third (35%Note E: Use with caution) of the residents of Shawinigan who had experienced major emergencies or disasters endured a loss of property or another financial impact as a result. About one in seven (15%Note E: Use with caution) experienced long-term emotional or psychological impacts.
Emergency planning, precautionary and fire safety behaviours
- Two-thirds (67%) of people in Shawinigan lived in households that were engaged in at least two emergency planning activitiesNote 7 (Table 1.2). About four in ten (39%) lived in a household with three or four such activities. Less than one in ten (8%Note E: Use with caution) people lived in a household that had not participated in any emergency planning activities.
- More than half (54%) of residents lived in a household with at least two precautionary measuresNote 8 taken in case of an emergency, with one-quarter (25%) living in a household with three or four such measures. More than one in ten (13%) people lived in a household with no precautionary measures in place.
- Most (98%) residents reported living in a household with a working smoke detector (Table 1.3). Three-quarters (74%) of the residents reported living in a household with a working fire extinguisher and one in three (34%) stated that they had a working carbon monoxide detector in their home. About three in ten (29%) people reported that they had all three fire safety measures within their households.
- Generally, the number of emergency planning activities or precautionary measures taken by residents of Shawinigan did not differ significantly from the behaviours of residents of Quebec or residents of Canada’s 10 provinces in general. In terms of fire safety, residents of Shawinigan were significantly less likely to have all three measures within their homes (29%) compared to Canadians overall (42%).Note 9
- Residents of Shawinigan were more likely to have a working fire extinguisher within their homes (74%) than both residents of Quebec (67%) and Canada overall (66%). In terms of other types of activities and measures, where there were differences between residents of Shawinigan and Canadians, rates of participation were lower among residents of Shawinigan.
Social networks and sense of belonging
- Almost half (46%) of residents of Shawinigan had a strong sense of belongingNote 10 to their community.
- The majority (89%) of residents described the neighbourhood they lived in as a place where neighbours generally help each other.Note 11 Of those who did not describe their neighbourhood this way, almost three-quarters (72%) still described it as a place where neighbours would help each other in an emergency.Note 12
- Many residents had a large network of support in the event of an emergency or disaster, with more than five people to turn to for emotional support (55%), if physically injured (49%) or in case of a home evacuation (48%). About one in five people had a large network of support if financial help was needed (18%), and about one in ten (11%) reported they had no one to turn to for financial help.Note 13
- The involvement of residents of Shawinigan in social and political activities did not have any significant impact on their level of emergency preparedness (Table 1.4).
Data tables
Most common sources of initial help and information by type of emergency or disaster | percent |
---|---|
Weather-related emergency or natural disaster | |
Police/law enforcement | 28 |
Local government | 28 |
911 | 24 |
Extended power outages | |
Utility company | 72 |
Local government | 7Note E: Use with caution |
Family | 6Note E: Use with caution |
Outbreak of serious or life-threatening disease | |
Hospital, clinic, doctor or other medical professional | 81 |
911 | 8Note E: Use with caution |
Industrial or transportation accident | |
911 | 35 |
Police/law enforcement | 30 |
Local government | 17Note E: Use with caution |
Contamination or shortage of water or food | |
Local government | 57 |
Hospital, clinic, doctor or other medical professional | 9Note E: Use with caution |
News- Internet | 8Note E: Use with caution |
Act of terrorism or terrorist threat | |
Police/law enforcement | 48 |
911 | 41 |
Rioting or civil unrest | |
Police/law enforcement | 60 |
911 | 37Note E: Use with caution |
E use with caution Note: Respondents who perceived their community was at risk for any form of emergency or disaster were then asked where they would turn to first for information or assistance in the event of the perceived emergency or disaster. Respondents could provide more than one response. Responses of 'don't know/not stated' are included in the total for the percentage calculation but are not footnoted when representing 5% or less of respondents. Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada, 2014. |
Number of planning activities, fire safety and precautionary measures taken by residents | Shawinigan | Quebec | Canada |
---|---|---|---|
percent | |||
Number of emergency planning activities | |||
None | 8Table 1.2, Note E: Use with caution | 10 | 8 |
1 activity | 22 | 22 | 17 |
2 activities | 28 | 26 | 25 |
3 activities | 22Table 1.2, Note ** | 26 | 27 |
4 activities | 17 | 14 | 19 |
Number of precautionary measures | |||
None | 13 | 17 | 16 |
1 measure | 31 | 29 | 27 |
2 measures | 29 | 28 | 28 |
3 measures | 19 | 17 | 20 |
4 measures | 6Table 1.2, Note E: Use with caution | 8 | 7 |
Number of fire safety measuresTable 1.2, Note 1Table 1.2, Note 2 | |||
None | Table 1.2, Note F: too unreliable to be published | Table 1.2, Note F: too unreliable to be published | 1 |
1 measure | 18Table 1.2, Note *** | 24 | 14 |
2 measures | 47Table 1.2, Note ** | 42 | 38 |
3 measures | 29Table 1.2, Note ** | 28 | 42 |
E use with caution F too unreliable to be published
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada, 2014. |
Residents whose households were involved in the following: | Shawinigan | Quebec | Canada |
---|---|---|---|
percent | |||
Emergency planning activities | |||
Emergency exit plan | 47Table 1.3, Note ** | 46 | 60 |
Exit plan has been practised/reviewed in last 12 monthsTable 1.3, Note 1 | 50Table 1.3, Note * | 40 | 46 |
Designated meeting place for household membersTable 1.3, Note 2 | 36 | 34 | 33 |
Contact plan for household membersTable 1.3, Note 2 | 49 | 51 | 55 |
Household emergency supply kit | 53 | 47 | 47 |
Vehicle emergency supply kitTable 1.3, Note 3 | 45Table 1.3, Note ** | 46 | 59 |
Extra copies of important documents | 46Table 1.3, Note ** | 47 | 53 |
List of emergency contact numbers | 70 | 68 | 69 |
Plan for meeting special health needsTable 1.3, Note 4 | 70 | 61 | 62 |
Precautionary measures | |||
Wind-up or battery-operated radio | 60 | 58 | 58 |
Alternate heat source | 54 | 48 | 48 |
Back-up generator | 18 | 22 | 23 |
Alternate water source | 36Table 1.3, Note ** | 38 | 43 |
OtherTable 1.3, Note 5 | 21 | 20 | 21 |
Fire safety measures | |||
Working smoke detector | 98 | 98 | 98 |
Working carbon monoxide detector | 34Table 1.3, Note ** | 34 | 60 |
Working fire extinguisher | 74Table 1.3, Note *** | 67 | 66 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada, 2014. |
Social and political involvement | Percentage of residents who had high or moderately high levels of... | ||
---|---|---|---|
Planning activities | Precautionary measures | Fire safety measures | |
percent | |||
Engagement in political activitiesTable 1.4, Note 1 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 41 | 26 | 29 |
No | 36Table 1.4, Note E: Use with caution | 26Table 1.4, Note E: Use with caution | Table 1.4, Note F: too unreliable to be published |
High level of civic engagementTable 1.4, Note 2 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 43 | 26 | 28 |
No | 38 | 26 | 30 |
High level of social supportTable 1.4, Note 3 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 48 | 34Table 1.4, Note E: Use with caution | 29Table 1.4, Note E: Use with caution |
No | 37 | 24 | 30 |
Strong sense of belonging to communityTable 1.4, Note 4 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 42 | 27 | 33 |
No | 36 | 24 | 26 |
High neighbourhood trustTable 1.4, Note 5 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 36 | 31 | 32 |
No | 40 | 24 | 28 |
High level of self-efficacyTable 1.4, Note 6 | |||
YesTable 1.4, Note † | 42 | 30 | 31 |
No | 36 | 22Table 1.4, Note E: Use with caution | 27 |
E use with caution F too unreliable to be published
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada, 2014. |
Notes
E use with caution
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