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The City of Edmonton has activated its extreme weather response for poor air quality. The response is effective May 12, 2024 and is scheduled to remain in effect until May 14, 2024 at 9am. The response may be extended if poor air quality conditions persist.
Caring for our city’s most vulnerable becomes especially critical in extreme weather conditions. The City will activate a response during extreme cold and high risk air quality conditions.
The threshold for air quality activations is 2 consecutive days of a score of 7 or higher on the Air Quality Health Index. Activations will include the following measures:
The City encourages people to take any and all actions to reduce exposure to the smoke. For example, keep all building and vehicle windows and doors closed as much as possible.
The City also encourages Edmontonians to check in on older family, friends and neighbours. If you are concerned about someone outside, you can help by calling:
The City is ready to activate an extreme weather response once forecasts indicate conditions of -20 degrees Celsius with wind chill for at least 3 days in a row, typically accompanied by an Environment Canada alert for extreme cold.
The City also considers other factors when activating a response, such as the numbers of shelter spaces available and information from key stakeholders about the health risks and impacts of weather on vulnerable Edmontonians.
The City takes precautions and activates when needed to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable people who may be at risk of harm from cold weather.
The extreme weather response implements City Policy C620 to ensure the health and safety of all Edmontonians, particularly those who are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.
Call 911 for someone in serious distress or in cases of emergency
During cold temperatures, learn to recognize the signs of hypothermia:
Note: A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing.
The City actively participates in the Sector Emergency Response, a collaboration between the City, Homeward Trust and more than 25 system and partner agencies working together to keep our vulnerable citizens safe and warm every night. The City and partners determine when it’s appropriate to activate the City’s extreme weather response considering weather conditions and existing capacity within community spaces for people experiencing homelessness to safely shelter.
Any activation is part of the Sector Emergency Response. The response runs every year from November 30 to April 1 and provides expanded shelter and services to those experiencing homelessness. In 2019, City Council approved a policy that formalizes and clarifies the City’s role in the system-wide response to supporting vulnerable Edmontonians during extreme weather conditions.
| Online | Contact 311 Online |
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If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311
| Phone | 311 |
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| TTY | 711 |