Cold weather readiness for community leaders

As we prepare for the upcoming winter season, Interior Health (IH) would like to share information and resources that can help protect people living in the region. While cold weather can pose significant health challenges to all individuals, these challenges disproportionately impact marginalized residents, such as people that are unhoused or underhoused. Shared planning and actions by communities can help minimize negative health impacts directly related to cold weather.   

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Prolonged exposure to cold weather can cause direct injuries, such as frostbite and hypothermia, while also increasing the risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, and stroke-related illness and mortality. It is important to note that data from emergency departments within IH show that most cases of hypothermia occur at temperatures of 0°C or colder. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) will issue an extreme cold warning when temperatures or wind chill are expected to reach a specific threshold for at least two hours in communities across the IH region. This warning is triggered based on local conditions, which may vary across the region and may impact communities differently. 

• People who are unhoused or underhoused 
• People living in inadequate housing without adequate insulation, or without adequate electricity or heat 
• People who spend long periods of time outdoors for work or recreation, or transportation 
• People who use substances, such as alcohol and opioids, that modify their ability to feel the effects of cold exposure  
• People who are not dressed properly, having wet skin or wearing wet clothing 
• People with disabilities or limited mobility  
• People who live alone or are socially isolated 
• People taking medicines that affect regulation of body temperature
• People with certain medical conditions such as diabetes and peripheral neuropathy (muscle weakness, tingling, numbness), and diseases affecting the blood vessels
• People with mental health conditions 
• Older adults (over 65 years of age)  
• Infants (under 1 year old) and young children 

People who are unhoused or underhoused often face multiple risk factors, further compounded by untreated underlying health conditions and inadequate access to winter clothing and sheltering, placing them at the highest risk of death and injury due to prolonged exposure to cold weather.  

Based on provincial evidence, it is recommended that cold weather response plans for people who are unhoused or underhoused should be enacted when the daily low temperature is forecast to be 0 C or colder. However, each community is responsible for determining thresholds for its local cold weather response plan as circumstances, practicality, and resources permit.  

Municipalities can prepare for cold weather by developing systems and plans that help save lives and reduce cold-related injuries.

The IH Healthy Communities Program and Office of the Chief Medical Health Officer are available to support community planning related to climate resilience. Your regional Healthy Communities team member can be contacted at healthycommunities@interiorhealth.ca.  

• Develop or review your community cold weather response plan with temperature activation thresholds that align with BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). Consider exploring cold weather resources for emergency planning and response. 
• Apply for funding through BC Housing to help fund an Extreme Weather Response (EWR) shelter (12-hour shelter that is activated by your pre-determined activation temperature threshold). 
• Apply to the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness for a task number to help fund a daytime warming space. 
• Participate in ad hoc planning meetings, or meetings between IH and City officials including the Mayor and Council, and local organizations. 
• Create an inventory list of local community organizations that offer services at no cost that may provide relief from the cold (e.g., organizations that offer warm meals at no cost or local clothing drives that may offer winter clothing). 

• Supporting the development of community cold weather preparedness and response plans. 
• Updating and implementing an IH organizational cold weather preparedness and response plan. 
• Monitoring, supporting, and offering cold check-ins for IH clients and patients at higher risk of experiencing cold-related injuries. 
• Participating in regional briefing calls with local governments and First Nations to provide public health advice. 
• Sharing cold weather warnings and broadcast public health messages about the prevention of cold-related injuries. 
• Providing public health messages to share through community cold weather response communications. 
• Providing outreach to support people that are unhoused or underhoused during cold weather events.
• Supporting communities in accessing funding for personal protective warming equipment for people that are unhoused or underhoused.
• Delivering public health messages, creating resources, and collaborating with local school districts to help schools and childcare facilities prepare for cold weather events. 

Email ihextremeweatherresponse@interiorhealth.ca.

Page updated Nov. 21, 2025.