Caring for our city’s most vulnerable is especially critical in extreme weather conditions. Updates will be posted here when the extreme weather response is activated.
The City monitors the potential for dangerous health conditions created by extreme cold or heat. During the winter, City resources will be used to open additional temporary 24/7 emergency shelter space and expand overnight transportation when thresholds for shelter system capacity and severe weather are met.
Sector Emergency Response
The 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.
The City Sector Emergency Response is 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.
In 2019, City Council approved a that formalizes and clarifies the City’s role in the system-wide response to supporting vulnerable Edmontonians during extreme weather conditions.
What Citizens Can Do
- Learn to recognize the signs of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering, drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, or slurred speech; and a person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing
- Call 911 for someone in serious distress or in cases of emergency
- Call 211, press 3 for 24/7 Crisis Diversion non-emergency support for shelter, intoxication and mental health
Our has steps you can take to help someone during the winter months.