EMERGENCY PLANNING SECRETARIAT
Yo:yes Sq'eq'o | Working Together
EXTREME HEAT
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OVERVIEW
Extreme heat occurs when temperatures rise significantly above seasonal norms for a prolonged period, posing serious risks to health, infrastructure, and community wellbeing. Extreme heat can develop over just a few days, and conditions can become dangerous before they feel that way.
Extreme heat is one of the top risks to people in British Columbia, with the potential to cause injury and illness, loss of life, psychological impacts, and severe disruptions to daily life. The 2021 heat dome saw nearly 600 deaths from extreme temperatures, including 231 deaths on a single day. Episodes of extreme heat are projected to become hotter, longer, and more frequent as BC's climate continues to change.
First Nations peoples face distinct risks during extreme heat events, including disruption to traditional food sources, medicines, and lands. For communities in remote or rural locations, access to cooling infrastructure during an emergency can also be limited.
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PREPAREDNESS
With limited early warnings available for extreme heat, an effective response requires planning well before summer arrives.
Cooling Centers
Cooling centers or spaces are one of the most important community-level tools during an extreme heat event. These do not need to be dedicated facilities, and can be spaces like band offices, health centres, community halls.
Before summer, leadership should:
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Identify which community buildings are air-conditioned (preferably through central air).
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Designate at least one space as a cooling centre and confirm it can be activated quickly.
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Communicate cooling center locations to all community members.
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Register locations on EmergencyInfoBC so they are publicly accessible.
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Explore opportunities for organized transit to cooling centers, especially for vulnerable populations.
Emergency Supplies
Getting heat relief supplies before summer begins ensures resources are available when they are needed most. Emergency supplies can be bought in bulk and either stock-piled or distributed to the community in advance.
Recommended supplies to have on hand include:
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Portable fans and extension cords.
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Thermometers for monitoring indoor temperatures.
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Cooling towels or spray bottles.
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Emergency blankets (used reflectively to block heat from windows).
Rebates, subsidies, grants, and other financial assistance for heat relief supplies may be available to your community.
Vulnerable Populations
Not all community members face the same level of risk. Leadership and health staff should work together before heat season to:
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Identify community members at higher risk, such as Elders, people living alone, people with chronic health conditions or disabilities, infants and young children, and people without access to adequate cooling.
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Map their locations so check-ins can be organized efficiently during a heat event.
A wellness check protocol ensures that vulnerable community members are consistently monitored during a heat event and that there is a clear process for escalating concerns. Leadership should establish:
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Who is responsible for conducting wellness checks at each BC HARS warning level — and whether this changes as severity increases
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How checks will be conducted — in person, by phone, or both — and how frequently.
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What wellness checkers should assess, such as indoor temperature, hydration, signs of heat-related illness, and whether the person has access to cooling.
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A clear escalation process, including what wellness checkers should do if someone is unwell, unresponsive, or showing signs of heat stroke.
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How findings will be documented and reported back to leadership.
The NCCEH Health Checks During Extreme Heat Events guide provides practical guidance on how to conduct effective wellness checks in person and by phone.
Individual Actions
Individual community members should ensure that they are prepared as well.
Preparing your home before a heat event can make a significant difference in staying safe. A few modifications can help keep indoor temperatures manageable during extreme heat.
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Identify the coolest room in your home and prepare it.
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Keep easy-to-read thermometers available to monitor indoor temperatures. 31°C or higher is dangerous for vulnerable people.
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Close windows, blinds, and curtains during the heat of the day to block sun and prevent hot air from entering.
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Open windows and doors in the evening and overnight.
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Use fans to move cooler air indoors during the evening and early morning hours — note that fans cannot effectively lower body temperature at temperatures above 35°C.
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Use cool showers or mist to lower body temperature.
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Avoid using appliances that generate heat, such as ovens, during the hottest part of the day.
AIR CONDITIONING
Air conditioning is the most effective way to stay cool during extreme heat.
BC Hydro and FortisBC offer free portable air conditioners for eligible residents. Heat pump rebates are also available through CleanBC Better Homes.
Many rebates and subsidies may also be applicable to your community.
RESPONSE
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The BC Provincial Heat Alert and Response System (HARS) is a province wide document that outlines specific threshold zones that trigger warnings based on localized daytime and nighttime temperatures. When ECCC forecasts meeting these trigger points, a public alert, yellow, orange, or red will be issued. The level of response should match the severity of the alert.
Yellow Warning
A Yellow Warning will be issued by ECCC when temperatures in the forecast region are unusually high and expected to reach the minimum temperature (Tmin) and maximum temperature (Tmax) ranges for at least 2 days.
Relevant actions can include:
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Communicating the alert to community members.
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Reminding vulnerable individuals to stay cool and hydrated.
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Monitoring conditions.
Orange Warning
An Orange Warning will be issued by ECCC in partnership with the BC HEAT Committee when temperatures are very high in the forecast region and are expected to exceed the Tmin and Tmax ranges for at least 3 days.
Relevant actions can include:
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Activating cooling centres.
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Activating wellness checks on vulnerable community members.
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Ensuring emergency supplies are accessible.
Red Warning
A Red Warning will be issued by ECCC in partnership with the BC HEAT Committee when the forecast region is at or above an orange level temperature range and the heat is expected to substantively increase day over day for 3 or more days.
Relevant actions can include:
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Full activation of heat response plan.
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Establishing overnight cooling centres.
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Deploying door-to-door wellness checks.
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Contact EMCR for a task number.
EMCR Task Number
Communities experiencing emergencies may be eligible to obtain an Emergency Management and Climate Readiness task number through the Southwest Region EMCR.
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1-888-663-3456
A task number will enable your community to be compensated for resources spent on response.
Evacuation
While an evacuation due to extreme heat is unlikely, putting plans in place for the scenario can help ensure a timely and smooth response.
For information about evacuations, please visit our Evacuations page.
HOW WE CAN HELP
We support 31 communities, from Yale to Semiahmoo to Squamish, in improving emergency planning and preparedness at the local and regional levels.
In an emergency, we can:
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Provide surge support to administration and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
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Assist with the coordination of resources to communities.
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Facilitate coordination communication with affected community members and partners.
Before an emergency, we can:
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Assist with project engagement for emergency-related projects.
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Coordinate discussions and collaborative efforts between communities, governments and other agencies.
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Assist in communications and information management for contracts, projects and initiatives throughout the regional levels.
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Assist in developing community emergency plans and preparedness toolkits for application during emergency situations.
Our vision is to have all of the 31 Mainland Coast Salish First Nations, from Yale to Squamish to Semiahmoo, resilient to existing and future disasters.