With temperatures rising and active heat warnings in many regions of the province, UBCM recently hosted a webinar on heat preparedness. Speakers from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the B.C. Ministry of Health discussed recent events, heat preparedness initiatives and provided a seasonal outlook.
Dr. Sarah Henderson, Scientific Director of Environmental Health Services at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control began the webinar by presenting findings from an ongoing review of the 2021 Heat Dome, including information on excess mortality that occurred as a result of the extreme heat. This research has helped identify a number of key risk factors (e.g., indoor heat, social isolation, mental illness) associated with heat-related mortality.
Armel Castellan, Warning Preparedness Meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, examined the current conditions, while also providing a 2022 seasonal forecast. Mr. Castellan outlined the criteria that must be met in the various regions in order for a heat warning to be declared. Comparing the criteria to the actual temperatures experienced during the 2021 Heat Dome helped emphasize the severity of last year’s extreme heat emergency.
This background information was also used to explain and put into perspective the 2022 seasonal outlook for British Columbia. While the heat is expected to intensify during the coming weeks, it has been noted that B.C. is unlikely to see temperatures rise to the level experienced during the 2021 Heat Dome. Despite this outlook, susceptible groups will remain at risk.
Lastly, Jamie Galt, Director of the Emergency Management Unit at the B.C. Ministry of Health, discussed heat preparedness initiatives, including the development of the B.C. Heat Alert Response System (BC HARS). The BC HARS involves a two-tier alerting structure, for heat warnings and extreme heat emergencies. Each tier comes with a unique set of recommended messages and actions for stakeholders, including local governments, to consider.
The provincial government is currently working to review the B.C. Coroner’s Report on Extreme Heat and Human Mortality, as well as refine the BC HARS and tools to support partners.
The Province has also provided local governments with a broad funding support presentation, as well as an overview of eligible response and recovery costs associated with heat events. Additional heat-related information may be found on the Province’s EmergencyInfoBC webpage.