It is important to consider the factors that influence an individual’s or communities’ flood vulnerability. Two people who live in the same area with the same exposure to the same flood hazard could have completely different outcomes. These factors are often referred to as social vulnerability. The conditions in which we are born, grow, work, live and age impact our vulnerability to flooding. This is due to systematic barriers and structural disadvantages that make it challenging to prepare for, cope with and recover from hazard events.
These factors are not isolated. The concept of intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, describes how different social categories like race, gender, class, and sexuality, interact and create overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage. An intersectional lens to flood vulnerability can help us understand more about how factors like income insecurity and discrimination can compound and increase impacts from flooding.
Systemic barriers and structural disadvantages that equity-deserving groups face can be influenced by historical marginalization. Equity deserving groups have been pushed to less desirable land that can be more prone to flooding, have insufficient infrastructure, or be subject to more pollution. To learn more about this topic, we recommend resources prepared by The Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities & Community Health Project (ENRICH), a collaborative community-based research and engagement project on environmental racism in Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian communities.
HalifACT, Halifax’s ambitious climate action plan adopted in 2020, highlights how a climate resilient future requires equitable and sustainable transitions to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, including flooding. The plan recognizes the need to prioritize the most vulnerable and affected members of the community and incorporates concepts like a just transition. For more information, visit HalifACT.
Source: Urban Sustainability Directors Network (2017)
The following fictional examples are intended to explore how live experiences and structural and institutional barriers influence vulnerability to flooding. These are highly simplified depictions of real issues, however, do not reflect any real experiences faced by individuals and communities in the municipality. Creating a more resilient future requires thinking broader than just floods and action must be co-created with equity-deserving groups.
- Luis and the increasing cost of living
Luis has been struggling in recent years with increasing cost of living and no increases to his wages. He is not alone in these challenges, as systemic issues (like income inequality and rising costs) out of his control are impacting his financial security and wellbeing. Every month, it feels like there’s a bigger stretch between his expenses and his income. He knows he lives in a flood prone area, but isn’t sure what actions he should take. After visiting the Get Flood Ready page, he learned several low and no-cost actions he can take, like speaking with his neighbours, understanding his risks, and coming up with an emergency plan. Although he has taken many steps, he’s worried that he can’t afford to buy an emergency kit this year. Instead, he focuses on gathering household items he already has and making a list of his key contacts. Even though Luis feels more prepared, he worries he won’t be able to afford the additional expenses if it does flood.
- Josh and systemic racism
Josh loves his community and lives just five minutes away from his grandmother. Despite their strong roots and connections to the area, he is concerned that floods seem to hit harder and more often. His grandmother shared her perspective that the reason their African Nova Scotian community was more exposed to flooding is rooted in long-term displacement and systemic racism that forced them into higher risk areas. For decades, their community was overlooked for vital infrastructure improvements, with little opportunity to have their voices heard in the institutions that were supposed to protect them from floods. To address this, Josh decided to ask for help in organizing a community meeting to talk about flood risk and preparedness. The group contacted the municipal and provincial government to advocate for improved flood infrastructure. They also hosted a community planting weekend to add more deep-rooted plants that can reduce erosion and stormwater runoff, benefiting the environment and their community’s resilience.
- Maria and her commute
- Diana and her preparedness as an older adult
Diana has lived in the same neighbourhood for forty years. Recently, she’s seen many weather trends she has never seen before, like back-to-back years of hurricanes, higher river water levels in the spring, less snow in the winter, and even wildfires. After reading the Nova Scotia Emergency Preparedness Guide, Diane realized that she needed to make adjustments to her emergency plan, kit, and go-bag as an older adult. She worked with her nephew to create a comprehensive emergency plan that included a printed copy with key contacts and a list of her medications. They also completed a Home Flood Protection Check-Up together and her nephew offered to come over to remove debris from her eavestroughs and move valuables up from the basement level.
- Jade and food insecurity
Jade and her family are part of the 19% of residents who experience food insecurity (Just Food, 2023). Food insecurity is closely tied with broad, systemic issues like income inequality and limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Jade has faced rising costs without increasing wages and precarious employment makes it difficult to plan for fluctuating food costs. When a flood damaged her home, she had to throw out all her food that came in contact with water, further increasing her family’s food insecurity. It took months for them to recover from this financial and emotional blow.
- Don and housing affordability
Don lives in a basement apartment in a flood-prone area that that has flooded several times in recent years. While his apartment’s location is a key factor in his exposure to flooding, it’s only one part of the equation. Housing affordability, the availability of safe housing, discrimination in the housing market and limited vacancy have kept Don in a precarious housing situation. This year, his home flooded again, with water levels higher than he has ever seen before. He had to evacuate and rely on temporary shelter with a friend. A few months later, he notices mould growth in his apartment, which was beginning to impact his health. Don contacted his landlord and informed him that cleanup of mould and moisture problems was the responsibility of the landlord and provided resources from the Nova Scotia Government. His landlord has not found a solution yet, and with limited housing options and rising rents, Don feels he doesn’t have any alternative choices.
- Mo and his social connections
Mo and his friends are deeply connected to their community. During the pandemic, they started delivering food and supplies to neighbours in need. When they heard about an upcoming storm, Mo’s group immediately called all of their contacts to make sure everyone knew about the storm and had what they needed. When they didn’t hear back from two neighbours, they went to their house to check in on them. Mo’s neighbours were safe and grateful for the strong social connections that help build community resilience in the face of floods.
- Chris and financial resources
Chris owns his home on the ocean. He has experienced hurricanes before, and when he learned another was coming, he made the decision to evacuate. He felt it was an easy choice to make because he had the financial resources and time to stay in a nice hotel for a few nights, treating it as a mini-vacation. When he returned home, he was relieved to see that the thousands of dollars he invested in flood protection measures had held up to the waves.
- Isaiah and mobility
Isaiah uses an electric wheelchair. During a flood last year, his home lost power overnight and he couldn’t charge his wheelchair. This was really concerning, as he worried about his ability to evacuate safely. After that event, he decided to register for the Voluntary Vulnerable Persons Registry. He also worked with his family to develop their own Emergency Response Plan that takes into account his mobility needs and ensures that he has access to the necessary resources during an emergency.
- Emma and discrimination
Emma and her partner live in an apartment near the coast. As an LGBTQ+ couple, they’ve faced discrimination in the past, and they worry that shelters during emergencies may not be safe or accepting. When a flood risk was announced, they chose to stay home and attempt to ride out the storm as they were worried about the availability of shelter and the potential for discrimination. After this event, Emma knew she wanted to do something to help her community feel safe. She contacted the Halifax Regional Joint Emergency Management (JEM) team to look for opportunities to volunteer and share ideas to ensure everyone feels welcome in an emergency.
For supporting research, download Disaster and disparity: The unevent toll of floods and climate hazard in Canada [PDF].
Explore further: Flood resilience
Floods are a natural phenomenon and part of living in a costal area.