The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and Evacuation
Few studies have examined the scope of the subjective experience during and after a natural disaster. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of persons affected by the wildfires and evacuation of Fort McMurray in 2016. The objectives were to document (1) the experience of the evacuation, an...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.641151/full |
| _version_ | 1818986861972946944 |
|---|---|
| author | Laura Thériault Geneviève Belleville Marie-Christine Ouellet Charles M. Morin |
| author_facet | Laura Thériault Geneviève Belleville Marie-Christine Ouellet Charles M. Morin |
| author_sort | Laura Thériault |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Few studies have examined the scope of the subjective experience during and after a natural disaster. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of persons affected by the wildfires and evacuation of Fort McMurray in 2016. The objectives were to document (1) the experience of the evacuation, and (2) the biopsychosocial consequences of the wildfires as perceived by evacuees from Fort McMurray 3 months and 3 years after evacuation. This study included two data collections, one from 393 evacuees 3 months after evacuation using an online questionnaire, and the other from 31 participants (among those who participated in the 3-month evaluation) interviewed by telephone 3 years after evacuation. Eight themes describing the evacuation experience emerged from the qualitative analysis: the preparation for evacuation, the perceived traumatic nature of the evacuation, problems encountered while on the move, assistance received and provided, vulnerability conditions, presence of physical discomfort, relocation and no problem/no response. Seven categories of negative consequences emerged: material and financial loss, emotional/mental health disorders, cognitive impairments, behavioral changes, spiritual/existential reflections, social alterations, and physical conditions. Four categories of positive consequences emerged: posttraumatic growth, resilience/absence of consequences, altruism and community cohesion. This study showed a wide range of perceived consequences of fires and evacuations by Fort McMurray residents. The results highlight the importance of tailoring responses to the needs of evacuees and providing assistance to victims over a long period of time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:57:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0604760c22694cc6a239c21b96954aaf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:57:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0604760c22694cc6a239c21b96954aaf2022-12-21T19:29:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652021-11-01910.3389/fpubh.2021.641151641151The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and EvacuationLaura ThériaultGeneviève BellevilleMarie-Christine OuelletCharles M. MorinFew studies have examined the scope of the subjective experience during and after a natural disaster. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of persons affected by the wildfires and evacuation of Fort McMurray in 2016. The objectives were to document (1) the experience of the evacuation, and (2) the biopsychosocial consequences of the wildfires as perceived by evacuees from Fort McMurray 3 months and 3 years after evacuation. This study included two data collections, one from 393 evacuees 3 months after evacuation using an online questionnaire, and the other from 31 participants (among those who participated in the 3-month evaluation) interviewed by telephone 3 years after evacuation. Eight themes describing the evacuation experience emerged from the qualitative analysis: the preparation for evacuation, the perceived traumatic nature of the evacuation, problems encountered while on the move, assistance received and provided, vulnerability conditions, presence of physical discomfort, relocation and no problem/no response. Seven categories of negative consequences emerged: material and financial loss, emotional/mental health disorders, cognitive impairments, behavioral changes, spiritual/existential reflections, social alterations, and physical conditions. Four categories of positive consequences emerged: posttraumatic growth, resilience/absence of consequences, altruism and community cohesion. This study showed a wide range of perceived consequences of fires and evacuations by Fort McMurray residents. The results highlight the importance of tailoring responses to the needs of evacuees and providing assistance to victims over a long period of time.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.641151/fullnatural disasterwildfire (bushfire)evacuationconsequencesqualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Laura Thériault Geneviève Belleville Marie-Christine Ouellet Charles M. Morin The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and Evacuation Frontiers in Public Health natural disaster wildfire (bushfire) evacuation consequences qualitative research |
| title | The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and Evacuation |
| title_full | The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and Evacuation |
| title_fullStr | The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and Evacuation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and Evacuation |
| title_short | The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and Evacuation |
| title_sort | experience and perceived consequences of the 2016 fort mcmurray fires and evacuation |
| topic | natural disaster wildfire (bushfire) evacuation consequences qualitative research |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.641151/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lauratheriault theexperienceandperceivedconsequencesofthe2016fortmcmurrayfiresandevacuation AT genevievebelleville theexperienceandperceivedconsequencesofthe2016fortmcmurrayfiresandevacuation AT mariechristineouellet theexperienceandperceivedconsequencesofthe2016fortmcmurrayfiresandevacuation AT charlesmmorin theexperienceandperceivedconsequencesofthe2016fortmcmurrayfiresandevacuation AT lauratheriault experienceandperceivedconsequencesofthe2016fortmcmurrayfiresandevacuation AT genevievebelleville experienceandperceivedconsequencesofthe2016fortmcmurrayfiresandevacuation AT mariechristineouellet experienceandperceivedconsequencesofthe2016fortmcmurrayfiresandevacuation AT charlesmmorin experienceandperceivedconsequencesofthe2016fortmcmurrayfiresandevacuation |