More government co-ordination, communication needed to respond to extreme heat events: reports, experts bychelseanash
The damage in Lytton, B.C., as seen in a photo posted by MP Brad Vis to Facebook on March 1, 2022. 'Eight [months] later, with debris removal barely begun, Lytton residents are exasperated at the pace of the rebuild. Lytton deserves better and we continue to work with all levels of government to move this recovery forward,' he wrote.Message:
Now, as the longest day of the year—June 21—approaches, the threat of more extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, and other extreme weather events looms large.that B.C. should see near-normal temperatures this month, experts warn of more extreme heat events to come—and not just in the westernmost province.
“People are not aware that it’s a problem, or if they are aware, they do not know what to do to help themselves,” she said. In an extreme heat event, for instance, individuals should check on their vulnerable neighbours and friends, identify and contain themselves to a “cool room” in their house, and stay hydrated.
The report found that even though Health Canada published a best practices guidebook in 2012 for heat alert and response to protect health, a jurisdictional scan completed in 2017 found that most municipal governments and health authorities in B.C. did not have HARS plans in place. Peter Berry, a senior policy analyst and science adviser at the climate change and innovation bureau at Health Canada, said his department did this work in Ontario, where a number of health agencies had developed their own heat alert systems.
This was also an issue identified by the B.C. Coroners Service report—a lack of a cohesive response from the varying government jurisdictions and public health agencies, all of which have a role to play in emergency response. Vis said for the community of Lytton, fragmentation but also bureaucracy have been huge challenges facing his constituents in the wake of the disaster.
“I think that strategy actually has the teeth and short-term action behind it to actually do something,” she said, adding she is “hopeful” it’s not more words without action.
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