University of Alberta, Faculty of Engineering – Evacuations and Resilience Hubs: Preparing Edmonton for Extreme Events and Climate Change

Over the coming decades, Edmonton will experience an increase in the frequency, intensity, and size of hazards due to climate change.

The Edmonton river valley and surrounding neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable to wildfires and flooding, requiring mitigation and adaptation strategies to protect infrastructure, property, and human life.

This project aims to:

1. prepare Edmonton officials and residents to evacuate from both wildfires and flooding;
2. identify infrastructure, processes, and procedures for transporting evacuees via high-capacity transportation modes, and;
3. inform planning for resilience hubs that can act as shelters and resource centers for additional hazards including heat waves.