91̽��

As another wildfire season begins across Canada, new research from the University of 91̽�� is shedding light on the often-overlooked human realities of evacuation and long-term recovery.

For , professor in the , wildfire evacuations are not simply emergency management events – they are deeply disruptive social experiences that can affect every aspect of a person’s life long after the flames are extinguished.

“Evacuees’ experiences show that emergency plans need to better support people’s real lives, not just move them away from danger,” says Drolet. “It’s important to recognize that wildfire evacuation is a social issue as much as it is an emergency management issue.”

Drolet will present preliminary findings from her latest research at the upcoming , taking place June 9–11 at the Edmonton Convention Centre. Organized by the , the national gathering will bring together researchers, policymakers, and community leaders from across Canada to examine major questions shaping the country’s future–including public trust, climate resilience, knowledge mobilization, and the role of humanities and social sciences research in addressing complex societal challenges.

The Federation describes the summit as a moment to “forge new collaborations and tackle these critical questions” through historical, cultural, linguistic, and practice-based perspectives. The organization represents more than 160 universities, colleges, and scholarly associations across Canada, connecting over 90,000 researchers and graduate students through advocacy, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange initiatives.

The true impact and cost of disaster evacuations

Drolet’s study examines the lived experiences of Albertans evacuated during major wildfire events, including the 2011 Slave Lake wildfire, the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, and the 2023 and 2024 wildfire seasons. Through interviews and focus groups, the research explores how people cope, heal, and rebuild after displacement.

The findings reveal that evacuation can create profound emotional, financial, and social strain. Participants described experiencing stress, uncertainty, housing instability, lost income, family separation, and difficulty accessing food, transportation, health care, and mental health supports.

Many evacuees also spoke about the emotional toll of losing homes, treasured belongings, pets, and connections to place and community.

The research aligns with a growing body of evidence showing that disasters can have long-term impacts on mental health and wellbeing, particularly for children, youth, and vulnerable populations. Earlier studies connected to the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires found significant increases in depression, suicidal thinking, and psychological distress among adolescents following the disaster.

How disasters intensify inequities 

Drolet says disasters often intensify existing inequities, particularly for people already facing barriers related to income, disability, language, housing, or geographic isolation.

“Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters, but not everyone experiences these events equally,” she says. “Some people face much greater challenges recovering because of the social and economic realities they were already navigating before the evacuation happened.”

Her work also highlights the critical role social workers and human service professionals play in disaster recovery. Previous research led by Drolet found these professionals are increasingly involved in long-term recovery efforts through counselling, advocacy, service coordination, outreach, and community rebuilding.

The long-term impact of disasters on the community

The studies emphasize that recovery extends far beyond the immediate emergency response period. While disaster systems often focus on short-term emergency services delivered in the first 72 hours, Drolet’s research points to the need for sustained, coordinated support over months and even years.

The findings also point toward opportunities for improvement, including clearer communication during evacuations, better access to stable temporary housing, expanded mental health supports, and stronger coordination among governments, emergency responders, community organizations, and social service agencies.

Drolet says strengthening collaboration across sectors will become increasingly important as communities across Canada continue to experience more climate-related disasters.

“Social workers and human service professionals are essential in disaster response and recovery,” she says. “They help build trust, connect people to services, and support community resilience during moments of profound disruption.”

The research is supported in part by funding from the .