Inclusive Emergency Response Planning

Inclusive Emergency Response Planning: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Emergencies don’t wait for perfect conditions, and when they strike, clear communication can save lives. Whether you're managing a workplace, a residential facility, or a community organization, ensuring that everyone knows how to stay safe is essential.

But here’s the challenge: people receive and process information in different ways. Language barriers, cultural differences, and varying levels of comfort with technology mean that a one-size-fits-all approach to emergency communication simply doesn’t work.

Why Diversity Must Be at the Heart of Your Emergency Plan

In many communities like the Bow Valley, a significant portion of residents or staff may be newcomers or speak languages other than English. About 32.8% of residents - or around 1 in 3 locals - was born outside of Canada (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census).

When emergency plans are designed with diverse needs in mind, they become more effective for everyone. Here’s how:

Key Benefits of Inclusive Emergency Planning

• Improved Safety for All
  Plans that account for language and cultural differences help ensure everyone understands how to respond quickly and correctly.

• Clearer Communication During Emergencies
  Using plain language, visuals, and multilingual resources reduces confusion and supports better decision-making when it matters most.

• A More Inclusive and Prepared Culture
  Thoughtful planning builds trust, shows care for every individual, and helps meet both legal and moral responsibilities.

Inclusion Is Preparedness.

Emergency planning isn’t just about protocols, it’s about people. By recognizing and responding to the diverse needs of your team and community, you’re not only improving safety, you’re building a more connected and resilient Bow Valley.

Resources to help you create a more inclusive Emergency Response Plan

• Checklist: Multilingual & Multicultural Emergency Response Planning (PDF)

• Checklist: Inclusive Emergency Response - Emergency Communication Translations

• Voyent Alerts - Local mass notification service to encourage all residents to sign up to

• Personal Emergency Kit Checklist - Translated documents

  • English

  • українська/Ukrainian

  • 简体中文/Chinese (simplified)

  • Español/Spanish

  • Français/French

  • Tagalog/Filipino

• Recorded Workshop: Emergency Preparedness in a Multilingual and Multicultural Workplace | Tools and Insights
  Presented by Mohammed Idriss (He/Him), Manager, Brooks & County Immigration Services, this presentation provides insights informed by one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks connected to workplaces. The lessons learnt from this experience will provide practical tools for other employers to prepare for the next emergency.

• Blog Post: How to Reach English Language Learners in Your Workplace

• Blog Post: How Effective is Your Contact Plan

• Blog Post: Multilingual Mass Text Messaging Tool