A beefed-up communications plan, cooling centres, misting stations and water fountains are all part of the City of Victoria’s plan to tackle the next heat event.
After last year’s deadly heat dome, which drove temperatures in Victoria to a record 39.8 C on June 28 and resulted in 18 heat-related deaths in the region between June 25 and July 1, the city has devised a strategy to beat the heat.
Tanya Patterson, the city’s emergency program coordinator, told council this week that when the provincial alert system kicks in, the municipality will respond with a strategic communication plan to alert residents on how to stay safe and where they can find resources to help stay cool.
That communication plan will include an extreme-heat resource map showing the locations of all water fountains (including portable ones), misting and cooling centres, and any other cooling resources available.
Patterson said in extreme cases cooling centres may have to be established where the public can go to get some relief.
She noted local shopping centres and libraries offer air-conditioned spaces, while many senior’s centres offer similar kinds of places.
She said the city will create its own centres in the same way warming centres are established in the winter, by activating facilities to handle an influx of people.
Cooling centres, she said, would ideally be centralized, air-conditioned buildings that would have washing facilities and be pet friendly.
She said the location of the centres will vary depending on the situation and availability, but the communications strategy will tell residents where they can go.
The city also has plans to establish about 10 misting stations around the city that will serve densely populated areas and areas close to fire stations. Some of those stations will also have tents and tables where water will be handed out.
In addition to the city’s existing fixed water fountains, three portable water fountains available to be placed where needed. Those locations are likely to include the 900 block of Pandora Avenue and Centennial Square.
The province is expected to have its automated alert system to handle extreme heat alerts in place by next month.
Alert Ready, a system used across the country to broadcast warnings on radio and television stations, as well as on compatible wireless devices, was used last year to deliver 173 warnings across the country for wildfires, tornadoes, flash floods, Amber Alerts, civil emergencies, police emergencies and drinking water warnings.
The B.C. Coroners Service said last year’s extreme heat resulted in nearly 600 deaths.
