Open Collections

Wong, Brittney

University of British Columbia

As disasters such as floods increase in severity and frequency across Canada, more waste will be generated, posing a challenge for waste management and disaster management practitioners. The 2021 atmospheric river event in British Columbia (BC) was a large-scale event that demonstrated how communities can still face long-term challenges associated with debris removal. This thesis addresses three main research questions: (1) What are the existing waste removal processes for flooded communities in BC? (2) What gaps or limitations exist in these processes? For example, within the context of these processes, what socio-economic or other factors might impede a household’s ability to effectively remove their flood waste? and (3) How can the post-flood waste removal process and disaster debris management be improved? These questions are examined through a case study of the City of Merritt, BC, which was severely impacted by the 2021 atmospheric river event. The entire city was evacuated due to the failure of its wastewater treatment plant and the inundation of homes. This thesis draws on 14 interviews with city staff, government officials, contractors, and non-profit organizations to characterize the debris removal process and examine its challenges. Some gaps in this process include support for vulnerable groups such as seniors and renters in the community. Lastly, recommendations and lessons learned from the City of Merritt are explored to support better preparation for future disasters. The City piloted a curbside debris collection program, which was one of the successes that other communities can learn from to help their debris removal and recovery efforts.

Text

2023-09-05

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/85798

Resources, Environment and Sustainability

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/