B.C. launches heatwave alert system, pending further action

The system will include two levels of alerts, heat warnings and extreme heat emergencies. Heat warnings will be triggered when two or more consecutive days are forecast in which daily high temperatures are expected to meet or exceed regional temperature thresholds.

Heat warnings are expected one to three times per summer. Extreme heat emergencies are expected once or twice a decade.

For extreme heat emergencies, the province may issue alerts through the National Alert System, Alert Readywhich is already used to issue Amber Alerts and Tsunami, Forest Fire and Flood Warnings.

For Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, it is essential to learn the lessons of the June 2021 heat dome and work with local governments. Health Minister Adrian Dix reiterated his condolences to the families of the victims of the heat wave which killed 595 people.

Questioned on several occasions about the concrete measures put in place to help vulnerable populations who would not have the means, for example, to go to a refreshment center, the ministers explained that this alert system is one tool among others.

Mike Farnworth explains that the province is awaiting recommendations from the coroner’s office which must file a report soon regarding deaths during the heat dome.

” There are a whole range of other tools that would need to be accessible. So obviously, intrusive warning broadcasting is one, the media is another, door-to-door is another. »

A guide available in French

The province has also worked on a good practice guide, which is available in French (New window)in Punjabi, and in Chinese, so that British Columbians know what measures to put in place at their level in the event of a heat wave, such as self-monitoring for symptoms of heat stroke or regularly checking in on friends and vulnerable relatives.

The province explains that the alert system and the guide are also based on a reinforcement of the ambulance system and emergency care, and an increase in staff.

A $189 million Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is currently available, until June 24, to First Nations and local governments to map, assess and plan for extreme heat risks.

According to Armel Castellan, meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, there should be no heat wave in the coming weeks, while spring and early summer have been quite cold and wet […] for most of the province.

The meteorologist imagines that in the future more and more people, associations and buildings will make renovations to be able to manage the extreme temperatures inside the buildings.

With information from Alexandre Lepoutre