Examining the health and social impacts of evacuations and interventions that can help to mitigate their effects

Abstract

In 2023, Canadians witnessed a significant number of climate-related events, which resulted in an estimated 230,000 people evacuated due to wildfires alone. The burden of these and other evacuations is not evenly distributed throughout the Canadian population, with Northern and remote communities, including First Nations and other Indigenous communities, being more likely to be evacuated than southern urban communities. While evacuations are needed to protect people from immediate physical harm, they also risk additional harm, including physical and mental health concerns and challenges in maintaining community and social well-being. This rapid evidence profile examines the health and social effects of evacuations, how they vary by population and context, and what interventions are available to mitigate the public health and social impacts of evacuations.