City prepares for possible abnormal heat, advises Kamloopsians to check on vulnerable population

“Here in Kamloops, we fall in the southeast region of the province so if we have a heat alert event that will trigger a heat warning from Environment and Climate Change Canada, we will activate some indoor cooling centres,” says Carmin Mazzotta with the City of Kamloops.

Environment Canada is also reminding people of the dangers heat presents.

“[Heat] is more dangerous to people’s health than any other hazard that we forecast for, so it’s absolutely important to take the heat with the caution that it deserves. It may not affect you directly but it may affect someone you know,” says Armel Castellan with Environment Canada.

In order to activate the cooling centres, the city needs to have two days in a row of 35 degrees or warmer followed by lows that don’t drop below 18 degrees at night.

Due to the heat deaths last summer, the City wants to make sure people are checking on their neighbours.

“If you know somebody on your block who is a senior, who may be living in marginal housing who doesn’t have central air… maybe its hot in their house, you’ve heard them talking about it in the past, maybe they’ve got some pre-existing health conditions — let’s all just be good neighbours and go check on our neighbours,” adds Mazzotta.

For homeless people in the city, Mazzotta notes trained professionals are here to support those in need.

“People may be wondering what supports are in place for people maybe experiencing homelessness and our [Community Services Officers] are going to be working with street response teams in the community in coordination with those other service providers to ensure people at street level are getting water and are getting connected to services and supports.”

On that same note, transportation may also be needed to help get vulnerable people out of the heat.

“What we’re going to be doing, as well, is working with community partners around additional accessible transportation for folks to potentially get them to a cooling centre if need be,” says Mazzotta.

Extreme heat protocols can be found at Kamloops.ca/heat and the City is still asking for volunteers to lend a helping hand at the cooling centres.

Volunteers can apply to help at cooling centres at this site.

by Connor Gunn

City prepares for possible abnormal heat, advises Kamloopsians to check on vulnerable population

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