When a fire burned through Slave Lake, Alta., in 2011, truckloads of clothes, furniture and household items arrived for evacuees — and ended up in the dump.

Turns out, physical donations in the wake of a disaster are labour-intensive and take time from vital staff who are needed elsewhere, according to a Slave Lake "Wisdom Gained" report. 

In the aftermath of the devastating Jasper wildfires, there are many other lessons that can be taken from previous disasters. Here's what you need to know befo…