Immigrants and Responses
to Emergencies:
Perspectives on 2011 Flood
in Manitoba
Immaculate Nabisere (MRD)
Research Assistant
Rural Development Institute
Brandon University
Brandon, Manitoba
Introduction
• Influx of immigrants to rural areas
• Need for formal and informal partnerships in communities
(Especially that related to Disaster Risk Management)
• Case study in Brandon on immigrants and Vulnerability
Source: Vander Ploeg, 2000; Kates, 1971; Manyena, 2003; and Paton and Johnston, 2006
Slide 2
Outline
1. Definitions of Terms Used
2. Objectives
3. Method
4. Findings:
• Immigrant Vulnerability
• Partnerships – Immigrant Service Providers
5. Strategies
Definitions of Terms Used
Disaster Risk Management
• Prevention/Mitigation - PREPAREDNESS - RESPONSE - Recovery
Vulnerability of humans
 Physical, social, economic, and environmental factors
Hazards
 Situation that may cause loss of lives,
property damage, loss of livelihoods,
economic disruption, and environmental
damage
Emergency
 Flood, snowstorm,
fire, which warrants
actions to save
lives, and protect
property.
(UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction, 2008).
(FEMA, Guide For All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning (SLG 101), 1996, p. GLO-2)
Slide 4
Objectives
1. To investigate the vulnerability of immigrants in rural
communities.
2. To examine the challenges faced by rural communities in
the inclusion of
migrant considerations into the disaster
risk management planning.
3. Examine the relationships/ partnerships that exist among
immigrant
service providers
4. To explore and identify strategies for the integration and
inclusion of migrant consideration in DRM planning in rural
communities.
Slide 5
METHOD




Case Study in Brandon
56 interviews with immigrants 77% < 5 yrs. 23% > 5 yrs
7 key informant interviews with service providers
1 interview with DRM Coordinator
Limitations
 Social sensitivity and fear of reprimand
 Limited literature
Slide 6
Findings – Immigrants Vulnerability
•
•
•
•
•
Access to hazard information
Hazard Awareness & Experience
Hazard Preparedness
Knowledge of early warning system
Language Proficiency
** n=56 – all questions were answered.
Hazard Awareness & Experience
100%
90%
7% 7%
18%
41%
30%
80%
70%
93%
60%
50%
59%
93%
40%
82% 70%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Negative Response
Positive Response
Positive
• 59% are aware of hazards in Brandon
• 93% have not experienced hazards in
Brandon
• 93% are aware of floods in Brandon
• 70% no experience in country of origin
Negative
• 41% unaware of the hazards in Brandon
• 7% has experienced hazards in
Brandon
• 18% affected by the 2011 flood
• 30% experienced floods in country of
origin
Implication
• Need to increase awareness
• Flood experience in both Brandon and
country of origin
Access to hazard information
100%
90%
16%
80%
70%
84%
60%
50%
40%
Negative
Response
30%
Positive
Response
20%
10%
0
0%
Access to
Hazard
Information
Positive:
• 84% of respondents had access
to flood information
Negative
 16% no access to flood
information
Implication
 Information conveyed in English
 Communication gap
Language Proficiency
Positive
• Some level of competency
• Language services
100%
90%
Negative
• Majority not fluent
80%
70%
66.1%
60%
Negatgive response
50%
Positive response
40%
30%
20%
33.9%
10%
0%
Language Proficiency
Implication
• Their ability to access and
disseminate disaster risk related
information is limited
Hazard Preparedness
Positive
• Preparedness measures by
homeowners
100%
90%
80%
71.4%
70%
60%
Negative
response
50%
Positive
response
40%
30%
20%
28.6%
10%
0%
Hazard Preparedness
Negative
• No preparedness measures in place
by tenants
Implication
• Need to educate the people about
preparedness measures
Knowledge of the Early Warning System
Positive
• 2 knew what the early warning system
(Siren)
100%
90%
80%
70%
96.4%
60%
Negative
Response
50%
Positive
Response
Negative
• 8 mistook the siren system for police or
ambulances
• 46 never heard them
40%
30%
20%
10%
3.6%
0%
Siren System
Implication
• Need to create awareness of what the
siren system
• Differences in early warning systems –
Traditional vs. Scientific
Negative Response
Negative Response
96.4
71.4
66.1
41
30
7
7
Hazard
Experience in
Brandon
Flood
Awareness in
Brandon
16
18
Access to
hazard
information
Flood
Experience in
Brandon
Flood
Experience in
Country of
Origin
Hazard
Awareness in
Brandon
Language
Proficiency
Hazard
Preparedness
Knowledge of
the Siren
System
Partnerships & Integration – Immigrant Service
Providers
Organizations
Services Provided
Knowledge of Immigrant Specific need
Westman Immigrant Services


EAL
Settlement Services

Understand
Brandon Emergency Support
Team & Emergency
Coordinator
Canadian Red Cross


Spanish booklet
Emergency warnings

To some degree


Smartstart
Restoring Family Links.

Only in relation to the services they
provide or amidst response
7th Street Access Centre

Provides a number of health
and social services

To some degree in relation to services
provided
Assiniboine Community
College – Adult Collegiate

EAL

Only in English area
Brandon Police Services


To some degree through their
interaction

issue out messages for
evacuation
Dialogues with immigrants

Employment

Understand
Maple Leaf Foods
Partnerships
Immigrant Considerations Highlighted
• Language Issues
• Cultural Differences
• Mistrust of the Police
• Family Differences
Strategies
Comments
Questions
Discussions