Abstracts

Development of a Quick Response Protocol to Assess High-impact Weather Events

Grace Koshida
Environment Canada
grace.koshida@ec.gc.ca

One research focus of the Adaptation and Impacts Research Group (AIRG), MSC-EC has been to assess the impact of weather-related hazards on the economy, as well as the health and safety of Canadians. Past assessments of significant weather events have been conducted by MSC and AIRG researchers for the 1996 Victoria Snow Storm, 1999 Toronto Snow Emergency and southern Ontario droughts/heat waves. However, in all the above assessments, major difficulties were encountered and identified in collecting appropriate weather and socioeconomic data to assess the event.

Several high impact weather events in recent years (e.g. Hurricane Juan, "White Juan", Kelowna fires) highlight existing gaps in MSC's capacity to document the such events immediately after the post-impact period (i.e., within a few days or weeks after the event) using a systematic, standard quick response protocol (QRP).

The implementation of a QRP would allow the sharing of information with policy makers and local governments on identifying specific vulnerabilities and how they could prepare and adapt more efficiently, equitably, and effectively during high-impact weather events under a changing climate.

2005-04-05