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WINTER

OVERVIEW

Winter weather in BC brings cold snaps, heavy snow, freezing rain, black ice, and whiteouts, often with little warning. These conditions create risks both on the road and at home.

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On the road, conditions can change quickly with elevation, turning a clear drive into snow or ice within a few kilometres, especially on mountain passes and rural routes. This is why winter tires or chains are required by law on many BC highways from October 1st to April 30th. For Mainland Coast Salish communities, the risk is sharper where a single road is the only way in or out, since a storm can close it entirely.

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At home, cold snaps strain heating systems and older homes that may not be built for extreme cold, raising the risk of frozen pipes and heating failures. Winter storms often knock out power at the same time, so heat, water pumps, and communication can go down together. 

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Winter Blizzard Scene

PREPAREDNESS

With limited early warnings available for extreme cold, an effective response requires planning well before winter arrives.

Warming Centers

Warming centres or spaces can temporarily support people during a cold weather event. These do not need to be dedicated facilities, and band offices, health centres, community halls, and other existing spaces can serve this role.

 

If warming centers are included in a community's plan, leadership should:

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  • Identify which community buildings are heated and have a reliable power source, ideally with backup power.

  • Designate at least one space as a warming centre and confirm it can be activated quickly when needed.

  • Confirm the space has adequate washrooms and, if possible, a separate area for pets.

  • Communicate warming centre locations to all community members before winter.

  • Register locations on EmergencyMapBC (accessible through EmergencyInfoBC) so they are publicly accessible.

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Please note that emergency warming centres are not Group Lodging Facilities or shelters. To set up these, please visit BC Housing.

Vulnerable Populations

Some populations are considered more vulnerable, including:

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  • Infants and young children.

  • Those over 60 years of age.

  • People with chronic health conditions or disabilities.

  • People living in housing without adequate insulation or heat.

  • Substance users (including alcohol).

  • People experiencing homelessness.

  • Those who spend long periods of time outdoors for work or recreation.

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In the event of a winter-weather emergency, communities may wish to implement a wellness check protocol to ensure that vulnerable community members are consistently monitored. While there is no existing protocol for cold weather events, the NCCEH Health Checks During Extreme Heat Events guide can provide a basis for creating one. 

Road Clearing

Some communities choose to contract a local snow removal provider, while others may clear priority roads and lots themselves. A pickup truck fitted with a plow attachment can handle driveways, parking areas, and shorter stretches of road, and is often a practical option for community-level clearing. Heavier snow may call for specialized equipment. Where community members or staff take on this work, it is worth confirming any training, WorkSafeBC, and insurance considerations ahead of time, especially for heavier equipment or roads that others use.

 

Community members can also be a valuable part of the plan. Those with access to ATVs or snowmobiles may be included in a community emergency response plan to help meet essential travel needs within the community when roads are difficult, such as checking on members, delivering supplies, or reaching homes that vehicles cannot. Identifying who has this equipment, and building them into the plan ahead of time, gives the community another way to stay connected during heavy snow.

Individual Actions

Individual community members should ensure that they are prepared as well.

A well-sealed, well-heated home is safer, cheaper to run, and far less likely to fail when a storm hits. Winter preparations should begin prior to the season.

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To winterize your home, you can:

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  • Inspect your heating before winter, including furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys. A yearly inspection can catch any problems and keeps fuel-burning appliances running safely, which also reduces the risk of carbon monoxide.

  • Seal cracks and drafts around windows and doors to keep heat in, and insulate exposed pipes to keep them from freezing and bursting. 

  • If a pipe does freeze and burst, knowing where your water main is and how to shut it off can prevent serious flooding and damage. 

  • Have a plan for a heating failure or power outage during a cold snap, such as a wood stove or a generator-powered heater. 

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For more information, please visit Natural Resources Canada's guide.

HEATING

Several BC programs offer rebates to help with the cost, including for heat pumps, insulation, and other upgrades.

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Better Homes BC has a rebate finder that walks you through a short questionnaire to show which rebates you may qualify for.

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BcHydro's Home Renovation Rebate program offers rebates for upgrades like heat pumps and insulation. Eligibility requirements vary, so it's worth checking before starting work.

RESPONSE

Snowplow

When a single road closes during a storm, members who depend on regular medical care or supplies can be among the most affected. Some needs can be planned for by keeping extra supplies on hand, such as medications, wound care items, or oxygen, and by making sure anything that needs refrigeration or power has a backup plan during an outage. Other needs are harder to stock ahead, like dialysis, which requires regular treatment that can't be delayed safely. A community could plan ahead by identifying who has ongoing appointments and arranging alternate transportation if roads are blocked, such as ATVs or marine transit.

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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A task number will enable your community to be compensated for resources spent on response. 

Power Outage

Power outages are common during winter storms.

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For information about power outages, please visit our dedicated 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:

  • Provide surge support to administration and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

  • Assist with the coordination of resources to communities.

  • Facilitate coordination communication with affected community members and partners.

 

Before an emergency, we can:

  • Assist with project engagement for emergency-related projects.

  • Coordinate discussions and collaborative efforts between communities, governments and other agencies.

  • Assist in communications and information management for  contracts, projects and initiatives throughout the regional levels.

  • 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.

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