Bruderheim Community Vulnerability Survey

As Albertan communities experience more challenging weather like windstorms, freezing rain, floods, wildfires, heat waves, and poor air quality, communities must empower their people with information and support. Often, the most vulnerable community members suffer the worst from extreme weather, so it’s important to ensure they aren’t left behind.

Resilient Rurals is a partnership between the towns of Bruderheim, Lamont, and Gibbons for regional resilience and climate adaptation. We would like to know more about the different types of vulnerability Bruderheim’s community experiences, as well as provide participants insight on just how broad ‘vulnerability’ can be. Surveys like this one can provide a rationale to explore more town services in the future.

Who should participate in this survey? We encourage everyone in the Bruderheim community to participate in this survey and to share it with family, friends, and neighbours.

Part 1 of the survey is designed to gather information regarding your experience with vulnerability. Everyone is welcome to answer Part 1.

Part 2 of the survey is a form to gather registrants with critical vulnerabilities for Bruderheim’s Rural Assist program. Only complete Part 2 if you or someone you know has limited mobility, receive caregiver assistance, lives with a health condition that increases the risk in poor air quality or high heat conditions, and/or requires power or water to manage a health condition.

About Rural Assist: Resilient Rurals is piloting Rural Assist in Bruderheim which is a program that will support critically vulnerable residents during extreme events and utility service disruptions.

Information Disclosure:

You can complete the first half of this survey anonymously. You will answer general questions about your potential vulnerabilities (i.e., health issues, housing conditions, energy needs, and workplace conditions).
If you choose to complete Part 2 of the survey, you may disclose your name and some contact and personal information for Rural Assist to begin registration for yourself, or a family member or friend. Our team will only use your response to better serve critically vulnerable community members.
Physical and electronic copies of the data (where available) will be stored and protected using adequate safeguards, such as password-protected measures.
You can skip questions if you wish. If you skip questions, your responses to other questions will still be recorded.

The privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FOIP) protect this information. Permit application information may be shared with internal departments for the purposes of processing the applications and enforcing the Bylaw. If you have any questions about the collection and use of your information, contact the FOIP Coordinator, Town of Bruderheim at (780) 796-3731.

Question Title

* 1. Evidence shows a wide range of people can be highly vulnerable to climate impacts and unforeseen events. The following list describes the groups of people who are understood to be at a greater risk because of their health, age, livelihood, and other factors.

Do you belong to any of the following groups? Check all that apply.

Senior (65+)

Have reduced mobility due to a disability or other factors

Receives caregiver assistance

Racial minority

Indigenous

Newcomer to Canada

Live alone

Run a lone-parent household

Live in a low-income household (annual earnings are less than $27,000 for a 4 person household)

Live in substandard housing conditions (e.g., crowding, unsafe housing)

Live with a health condition that increases risk with poor air quality (e.g., moderate to severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.)

Live with a health condition that increases heat sensitivity (e.g., cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, high blood pressure etc.)

Manage a health condition with equipment that requires electricity and/or running water

Treat a health condition with medication that increases heat sensitivity (e.g., blood pressure treatments, diuretics, antihistamines, decongestants, medications to treat psychiatric conditions, etc.)

Live with anxiety, depression or other mental health issues

Job requires working outdoors in a range of weather conditions

None of the above

Question Title

* 2. It’s important to feel protected and comfortable in your home when storms hit, when it’s extremely hot (25 degrees C or hotter) or extremely cold (-20 degrees C or colder), or during other emergencies. Do you live in a secure and weatherproof home?

To the best of your knowledge, select all that apply:

I live in seniors housing

There are not enough rooms for the number of people who live in my house

I find it difficult to make monthly payments

I feel like I spend a significant portion of my monthly income on my housing

My home requires minor upgrades (e.g., new water heaters, installation or maintaining air conditioner units)

My home requires major repairs (e.g., replacement of roof or siding, repairing flood damage)

My home has air conditioning

My home has other cooling mechanisms (e.g., shade trees, shutters)

My home has alternative power sources (i.e., back-up generator)

My home has alternative heat sources (e.g., wood-burning stove)

My home has sewer back-up prevention (i.e., reverse flow valves, sump pumps)

I have insurance for overland flooding

I have tenant’s insurance for my belongings

My property has water conserving devices (e.g., rain barrel, low flush toilets)

My home has storm shutters

My home has a basement space for protection from tornadoes and for cooling in heat waves

My property has FireSmart landscaping (i.e, mostly fire-resistant deciduous species planted close to structures, regularly maintained lawn, regularly clear eavestroughs)

My property has windbreaks in the yard (e.g., east-west running fences or conifer plantings)

My property has unhealthy or old trees on or near property that could come down in a storm

Other features that make where you live secure and weatherproof (please specify)

None of the above

Question Title

* 3. Emergency preparedness and resilience to natural disasters are becoming increasingly important in rural communities as we begin to experience more extreme weather events like floods, snowstorms, power outages, and wildfires.

Important items for an emergency kit or go-bag

Water

Phone and charger

Prescription medications

Non-perishable food

Can-opener

Flashlight

Radio

Extra batteries

First aid kit

Spare set of keys for vehicles and home

Cash

Photo identification

Blankets and warm clothes

Candles

Matches

Jumper cables

Copies of contact information and other important documents

Select the following that apply to you:

I have an emergency plan ready in the case unforeseen events

My household and/or family members know our emergency plan

I do not have a complete emergency plan, but I have started thinking about it

My household does not have an emergency plan

I have a household emergency kit prepared

I have an emergency kit in my vehicle

I do not have an emergency kit for my home or vehicle

I understand what items are important to include in an emergency kit

I do not have a vehicle I could use to leave my residence or town if an evacuation was ordered

Question Title

* 4. Did you know?: One in five families across Alberta struggles to balance the costs of energy and utility bills with other household expenses. Being energy-poor may impact living standards and increase the risk of serious health impacts as people are unable to keep their houses from becoming too cold, too hot, or damp.

Even for an average family, there are times of the year when usage is higher and a source of stress (i.e., during the coldest months when energy use is higher for heating and lighting, and during the hottest months when energy and water use is higher for cooling).

Do you or your household ever have difficulty paying the utility bills for the amount of electricity and/or water you need to use?

Always

Very often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Prefer not to answer

I don’t know

This is not applicable to me

Question Title

* 5. Many people’s jobs require them to work in conditions that have environmental risks. Some people are required to work outdoors at any time of the year in any condition. Others may work in buildings that aren’t properly equipped to keep them comfortable when it’s extremely hot or cold outside.

Please rate your level of agreement with the following statement: My workplace provides adequate conditions for me to feel protected and comfortable during poor weather.

Strongly agree

Agree

Somewhat agree

Unsure

Somewhat disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

This is not applicable to me

Question Title

* 6. It’s important to be able to rely on your neighbours in a small town. Often, this culture of support is fostered through community events, clubs, and other opportunities to socialize. Having a strong sense of community connection is critical to bouncing back from challenges.

Please rate your level of agreement with the following statement: I have a network of family, friends, and/or neighbours in my community who I feel I can ask for help and support.

Strongly agree

Agree

Somewhat agree

Unsure

Somewhat disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Question Title

* 7. This completes Part 1 of the survey. Thank you for participating! Please continue to Part 2 to learn more about Bruderheim's Rural Assist program for vulnerable residents and how you can begin registration for yourself, or a family member or friend.

If you would like to complete your survey at this point, you may submit your responses now.

I would like to continue to Part 2 to learn more about Rural Assist and how I can register myself, or a family member or friend for the program

I would like to complete my survey now