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BC government takes precautionary step after learning of last year’s heat dome that killed hundreds
Date of publication:
July 19, 2022 • 20 hours ago • 2 minutes of reading • 26 comments People are looking for ways to cool off during the 2021 “heat dome” that killed at least 600 people in late June. Photo of CHAD HIPOLITO / REUTERS
Content of the article
The BC government has issued a warning for residents to prepare for an upcoming temperature jump, more than a year after failing to properly warn people of a heat dome that killed hundreds.
Content of the article
On Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Public Security issued a statement telling residents to expect higher temperatures as a high-pressure ridge moves east into the province. This is expected to trigger heat warnings this weekend and early next week.
“The warm, dry climate in many parts of British Columbia is predicted by Environment and Climate Change Canada,” the ministry says.
“While the current forecast suggests a drop in high daytime temperatures later this week, there is potential for the high-pressure ridge to rise this weekend and next week, which could lead to higher temperatures.” .
The ministry says BC does not currently anticipate an extreme heat emergency, but people are “encouraged” to monitor Canada’s Environment and Climate Change for temperature forecasts in their region.
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Between June 25 and July 1, 2021, at least 600 people died from heat-related causes after a high-pressure system was installed in southern BC and did not move for several days, creating a heat dome. Most of these people were single elderly people living in low-income housing and almost all of the deaths occurred indoors.
A subsequent review by the BC Forensic Service found that there was a delay between the heat alerts issued by Environment Canada and a response from the BC government and other agencies. The province was in a state of emergency (in which it remains) at the time due to COVID-19.
The government statement on Tuesday urged people to draw up a plan on how they will cope with the heat, including figuring out where to stay cool as in community centers and public libraries.
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