Vancouver residents are stepping up disaster readiness, but many call for clearer information and stronger community ties
Vancouverites are increasingly taking concrete steps to prepare for earthquakes, wildfire smoke, heat waves, and other emergencies. A new study by the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the City of Vancouver Emergency Management Agency(points to both progress and gaps in Vancouver disaster preparedness). The research surveyed nearly 3,000 residents and included six focus groups to understand how people perceive risk and what they’re doing to stay prepared.
Overall, the findings show a city where individual action meets a desire for broader, community-centered resilience. The study’s lead author, Dr. Jonathan Eaton of UBC’s Disaster Resilience Research Network, emphasizes that trust—between neighbours, institutions, and local government—can be as crucial as a go-bag or a medical kit. “Knowing you can count on neighbours and institutions during a crisis is just as important as having a go-bag,” Eaton said. “People feel more confident when their community and local government are trusted and when neighbourhood-specific information is easy to access.”
What the study found about Vancouver disaster preparedness
Household readiness in practice
The study found that nearly 70 percent of respondents reported having emergency supplies or savings set aside, and more than 65 percent planned to take two or more preparedness actions in the coming year. Actions ranged from stocking essentials to downloading Alertable, the City’s emergency alert app. These numbers signal a solid baseline of readiness in a city where residents must prepare for earthquakes, wildfire smoke, heat, and other hazards.
Barriers that still hold people back
Despite progress, many participants identified information as their biggest obstacle. About one-third noted difficulty finding reliable guidance, a challenge that climbed to nearly 40 percent among non-English speakers. Women reported feeling overwhelmed by emergencies (32 percent), while half of gender-diverse respondents flagged financial constraints as their primary barrier. These findings point to a need for guidance that is emotionally supportive and financially accessible for a wide range of residents.
Why community matters for disaster preparedness
Tailoring plans to neighbourhoods
Experts argue disaster planning works best when it fits the lived experience of each neighbourhood. Co-author Raahina Somani, a master’s student at UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, notes that residents feel more confident when their personal actions slot into a broader local plan. In other words, people want to be part of a larger collective effort, not just isolated actions at home.
Building trust through local networks
Trust matters as much for relationships as it does for technical know-how. Dr. Sara Shneiderman, a principal investigator and co-lead of the Disaster Resilience Research Network, argues that confidence across communities will make the city more resilient. The research suggests that strong community hubs, hands-on training, and clearer pathways to connect with neighbours and institutions could unlock greater participation in public education efforts.
What the City of Vancouver plans to do next
The City is already using the findings to inform its public education strategy on emergency preparedness. Vancouver Emergency Management Agency Director Daniel Stevens welcomed the insights, noting that people want to be prepared and that the city now has better guidance on how to reach more residents with essential information. The study will be repeated in 2027 to measure progress and refine outreach strategies.
Broader implications for resilience across British Columbia
While centered on Vancouver, the study is part of a broader UBC-led initiative to strengthen disaster resilience across British Columbia. Officials hope the lessons learned here—about clear information, neighbourhood-focused planning, and inclusive support—will help other communities build more robust emergency preparedness programs and better connect residents with the resources they need.
In a city facing housing and affordability pressures, the findings highlight an important tension: while trust in emergency agencies remains, residents are asking for more timely action and fair treatment in crisis situations. The city’s response will be watched closely as Vancouver charts a path toward more connected, practical, and inclusive Vancouver disaster preparedness.
