Canada: Saskatchewan natural hazards risk assessment report released
The Ministry of Government Relations has released a Saskatchewan Flood and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment that provincial and local officials can use as an initial planning tool for potential long-term disaster mitigation measures.
“I want to thank the experts and stakeholders involved in preparing this report,” Government Relations Minister Warren Kaeding said. “The document is a positive step forward to help better prepare and hopefully alleviate some of the consequences of these difficult events.”
The more than 250-page Saskatchewan Flood and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment was prepared by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) between 2016 and 2018. It concludes that drought and convective summer storms are the province’s highest risk natural hazards followed by forest fires and winter storms.
As part of SRC’s work, a more than 110-page Stakeholder Insights Report was also prepared to gather local knowledge following regional workshops held in 2017 in Yorkton, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, La Ronge, Swift Current and Regina, along with additional stakeholder conversations.
Stakeholders included: Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association; Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities; First Nations communities; academics; industry; along with government and non-government organizations.
The Saskatchewan Flood and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment and Stakeholder Insights Report complements the Prairie Resilience climate change strategy, in which resilience to the effects of a changing climate – such as extreme weather – is a priority for the province.
The reports were funded by the provincial and federal governments through the National Disaster Mitigation Program.