How do natural disasters impact the aging population? Using CLSA data to explore the effects of the 2013 Calgary flood

With global warming, the frequency of extreme weather events is expected to increase. Older persons are particularly vulnerable to suffering health consequences from these events. In Calgary, Alberta, a major flood took place on June 21, 2013, resulting in widespread evacuations and extensive property damage and loss, impacting both wealthy and lower income older adults. This happened in the midst of Calgary CLSA baseline comprehensive data collection (July 2012 – June 2015). Our study objective is to determine whether we can discern a measurable impact of the flood on the physical and emotional health of Calgary-based CLSA participants, using both questionnaire-based and biological measures of health and well-being.

We compared baseline CLSA data collected on Calgary-based CLSA participants during the 6 months prior to and 6 months following the 2013 flood that took place in Calgary, AB, and the surrounding area. Our study explored whether select psychological outcomes were associated with the flood for participants, who we categorized by the evacuation status of the neighbourhood in which they lived. Participants living in evacuated communities pre-flood had significantly lower levels of a diagnosed anxiety disorder than those living in non-evacuated communities, but this difference in anxiety levels disappeared post-flood. Participants with higher household income were less likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, worse self-rated mental health, and lower life satisfaction post-flood. Living alone reduced perceptions of social support post-flood, while identifying as female increased perceived social support post-flood. Although natural disasters like floods can shape research findings, the scope of the data being collected and the representativeness of impacted groups may lead to challenges in being able to detect subtle impacts at a population level.