The B.C. government will be using the Alert Ready system for extreme heat emergencies like last year’s deadly heat dome that killed over 500 people in the province.
Public Safety Minister, Mike Farnworth made that announcement this morning, noting there will be two levels of alerts – heat warnings and extreme heat emergencies.
A heat alert is defined as two or more consecutive days where daytime maximum and nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to reach or be above regional temperature thresholds
An extreme heat emergency will be in place if all of the criteria for a heat warning have been met, and daytime maximum temperatures are expected to “substantively” increase day over day for three or more consecutive days.
“Last summer’s unprecedented heat dome tragically resulted in hundreds of fatalities, making it clear we need to do more to be better prepared for future extreme heat events,” Farnworth said.
“We’ve developed a new heat framework so we’re ready for the next heat event, and we are ready to issue Broadcast Intrusive alerts for extreme heat emergencies to ensure people are aware.”
Farnworth says the temperature that will trigger the alert will vary depending on where in the province you are.
“In the Interior, so for the Okanagan for example, you’re looking at a daytime temperatures of around 35 C and a nighttime temperature of around 19 C,” Farnworth said.
Similarly, in the Lower Mainland, a heat alert could be triggered with daytime highs of 29 C and a nighttime low 16 C. Its a daytime high of 33 C and a nighttime low of 17 in the Fraser, and in Northern BC, its a daytime of 28 to 29 C and a nighttime low of 13 to 14 C.
“It’s vital that we take the lessons we learned from last year’s devastating heat dome to make sure that the Province and our health-care system are as prepared and resilient as possible during extreme heat,” Health Minister, Adrian Dix, added.
“The new heat alert and response system and actions we’re taking to strengthen the ambulance system and emergency care will help ensure people across B.C. are safe during future heat waves.”
The province is also bringing in additional measures to bolster the ambulance system to better respond to a significant increase in 911 calls during a heat emergency. Dix says the plan will increase capacity, maintain quality patient service, protect staff health and safety, and ensure timely communication with various stakeholders.
Staff will be reassigned to support areas where there is an increase in call volumes, as well as what is being described as “alternate care pathways and transport options” so ambulances are available for life-threatening 911 calls.
Farnworth also notes the province is also creating a new preparedness guide for extreme heat that encourages people to identify cool zones inside and outside their homes. It also suggests they take cool baths or showers, that they drink plenty of water, and check in with vulnerable neighbours.
“It includes advice on how to cope and staying safe when temperatures rise,” Farnworth said. “This guide is available in multiple languages and was created in partnership with the BC Centre for Disease Control.”
Last month, the province expanded the Alert Ready system to include notifications about floods and wildfires, with Farnworth noting work to add heat alerts to the system was still ongoing.
