Emergency Management Assistance Program - key statistics
How natural hazards affect First Nation communities
From 2009 to 2022, there have been more than
1800
natural hazard emergencies
affecting First Nations on reserves across Canada.
During this time,
floods and wildfires made up
71%
of all emergencies, followed by loss of essential services emergencies (13%), severe weather (10%), environmental contamination (4%), and landslide or shoreline erosion (2%).
Flooding
From 2009 to 2014, there was an average of 39 floods per year affecting First Nations on reserves. From 2018 to 2022, this
increased by
to an average of 75 floods per year.
Wildfires
From 2009 to 2014, there was an average of 28 wildfires per year affecting First Nations on reserves. From 2018 to 2022, this
increased by
to an average of 45 wildfires per year.
Evacuations
First Nations residents are disproportionately affected by emergency events and evacuations. From 2009 to 2022,
more than
First Nations people living on reserve have been evacuated due to a natural hazard.
How the Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP) supports First Nations
Response and recovery
From 2012 to 2023, EMAP has reimbursed more than $808 million in response costs and more than $545 million in recovery costs.
Mitigation and preparedness
From 2012 to 2023, EMAP has provided approximately
$175 million
to fund non-structural mitigation and preparedness projects.
FireSmart
From 2019 to 2023, EMAP provided nearly
$36.6 million
to fund FireSmart projects.
Capacity enhancement
From 2019 to 2023, EMAP provided approximately
$40 million
to fund coordinator positions in First Nations communities across Canada.
Co-led initiatives
In partnership with the Assembly of First Nations, EMAP co-led research into the accessibility of flood insurance products on reserves and the factors that play into First Nation flood preparedness.
Service transfer
- EMAP-funded emergency management coordinators to support First Nations by identifying and preparing for possible emergency scenarios and coordinating response efforts to emergency events.
- EMAP has begun transferring services to First Nations through emergency management capacity positions and the development of multilateral emergency management service agreements.
- In British Columbia, the FireSmart program is now delivered by the First Nations' Emergency Services Society.