Hey friends, did you miss us? We are excited to be back in action to tell Canada’s resilience story.
Just like you, dear reader, our volunteer HazNet team has been overextended for the past few years and we imagine you might have been feeling the same. It was challenging for us to pull together an issue while everyone is in a state of permacrisis, a prolonged period of instability and insecurity, often characterized by a series of cascading crises.
In this issue, we focus on the increasing frequency and severity of emergencies and disasters, and how they make it increasingly difficult to effectively mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. We focus on how emergency management is – and is not – evolving to meet these challenges. Let’s explore the compelling content you can find in this edition.
In our Practice section, learn about inspiring work to unite Coast Salish Nations for emergency response, implementing FireSmart programs, and advocating for culturally sensitive disaster management. Read about Holistic Recovery Models, a three-stage approach to rebuilding communities post-disaster, focusing on safety, healing, and social integration. Discover how Expressive Writing for Mental Health workshops can help communities process trauma from wildfires and smoke.
In our Feature section, we deep dive into lessons learned in managing extremes from San Francisco, Denver, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles and how the evolving field of Emergency Management has been dealing with “mission creep,” prolonged activations, and the increasing complexity of emergencies. Our ongoing series titled Inclusive Emergency Management explores communication and accessibility needs for the d/Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deafblind populations, emphasizing representation, accessible spaces, and equitable communication.
Our Interview section features an interview with Margareta Wahlström, who led the development of the Sendai Framework, as she reflects on the progress made on disaster risk reduction globally, emphasizing the successes of early warning systems, the increasing interconnectedness of hazards, and the importance of empowering community action. As part of our Indigenous Professionals Series, Serenna Besserer shares her intergenerational legacy of community service and her work in Indigenous emergency management, highlighting cultural considerations and Nation-to-Nation collaboration.
In our Policy section, Kasari Govender, British Columbia’s first independent Human Rights Commissioner, writes about Human Rights-Based Emergency Management and advocates for centering marginalized voices in emergency planning, addressing disproportionate impacts, and combating hate during crises. The HazNet team has prepared an informative read about the recently updated Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements, the largest disaster funding program in Canada.
In this issue, we also spotlight the recipients of the 2023 CRHNet Awards, a national awards program established to recognize and honour individuals participating in and contributing to the study and practice of disaster risk management. Learn more about each of our winners in the CRHNet section, and if these individuals sound like a friend, colleague, or peer, you can nominate them through the CRHNet Awards Program page on CRHNet.
We are proud of HazNet: Our volunteers have published 26 issues in over 14 volumes over the span of 15 years. During this time, one thing has remained constant – we deliver high-quality, peer-reviewed, timely and timeless content. Our reach spans the globe: Canada, Brazil, US, UK, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, India, Philippines, and Germany all engage in our platform and community.
We encourage you to send us your suggestions, feedback, and hot tips on how we can continue to elevate the platform and community of HazNet to tell Canada’s resilience story. Reach out to us at haznet@crhnet.ca. And as always, check out how to contribute to HazNet on our website https://haznet.ca/.
Carly Benson
Editor, HazNet
Nicole Spence,
Editor, HazNet
Lilia Yumagulova
Editor-in-Chief, HazNet
