Cold weather resources for emergency planning and response

Last updated on June 18, 2025

This page provides information for local governments and First Nations to support their cold weather planning and response. It provides an overview of provincially funded or supported programs available to help reduce the impacts of winter weather exposure on people at higher risk of experiencing cold related injuries, including people experiencing homelessness.

Community groups and not-for-profit service providers can also learn about BC Housing’s Extreme Weather Response program.

Community cold weather response plans

Local governments and First Nations create cold weather response plans that outline how they respond to cold weather conditions.

The BC Health Effects of Anomalous Temperatures Coordinating Committee (BC HEAT Committee) recommends activating cold weather response plans when the daily low temperature is forecast to be 0°C or colder. Plans should also be activated at higher temperatures when the forecast includes wet, snowy, and/or windy conditions.

Cold weather response plans should support people at risk, especially people experiencing homelessness.

If extreme cold weather is forecast, provincial legislation requires that actions must be taken when the event is considered an “emergency.”

Responding to extreme cold weather events

When an extreme cold weather event is forecast or has occurred, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) works proactively with local governments and First Nations by providing guidance and reimbursing eligible expenses to open emergency warming centres, ensuring people have a safe space to stay warm.

Emergency warming centres

Emergency warming centres are emergency response locations set up by local governments or First Nations to temporarily support people during a cold weather event. This can be a day and/or night facility and there is potential for incremental cost recovery through EMCR.

Note: Emergency warming centres are not Group Lodging Facilities or shelters.

Reimbursement for emergency warming centre costs

Communities can request reimbursement from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) for some expenses related to emergency warming centres. Reimbursement is available when:

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issues an extreme weather alert (such as Warnings, Watches, Advisories, and Special Weather Statements), or
The thresholds for action outlined in the community’s cold weather response plan are met.

Reimbursement is only approved when the upcoming weather event is outside the region’s normal range of weather.

For information about this policy, see EMCR Policy 5.14 Interim Extreme Weather Emergency Task Number Eligibility (PDF, 334KB).

Note: Costs cannot be reimbursed by EMCR if they are covered under the BC Housing Extreme Weather Response program.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses are outlined in the Eligibility Assessment addendum (PDF, 193KB).

The best way to ensure an expense is eligible is to submit an Expenditure Authorization form (DOCX, 21KB) to EMCR for approval. The form provides the details of the expenditure, its rationale, and an estimate of the total expense for the response activity.

Contact a Regional Office if you have any questions about these resources.

Planning for cold weather

Emergency shelters are operated by local service providers and supported by BC Housing.

BC Housing supports three types of emergency shelters serving people experiencing homelessness:

Year-round shelters are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year, regardless of the weather, and provide services and meals to guests.
Temporary shelters are open every night, and many operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with meals provided. These shelters also include seasonal operation from October/November to March/April.
Extreme weather response (EWR) shelters open overnight in the winter when a community declares an extreme weather alert such as during cold temperatures, snow, or heavy rain. Communities determine what temperature and weather conditions need an extreme weather alert in co-ordination with BC Housing. EWR season is from October 15 to April 15.

See the BC Housing shelter program fact sheet (PDF, 130KB) and learn more through BC Housing’s Emergency Shelter Program and shelter map.

BC Housing’s Extreme Weather Response program

BC Housing’s Extreme Weather Response (EWR) program provides time-limited, weather-responsive, temporary shelter spaces in communities where there is insufficient shelter capacity during periods of extreme weather. Communities must apply for the program in advance. BC Housing reviews applications each year. Communities must submit their EWR plan and proposed nightly budgets before September 30.

This program can be accessed by community groups, not-for-profit service providers involved in an extreme weather response plan, and local governments and First Nations.

Learn more about BC Housing’s Extreme Weather Response Program

Additional information and resources

The Ministry of Health and other health providers offer information about the effects of cold on the body. Learn about:

Expand All | Collapse All

Normal body temperatures and the effects of cold

A normal body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F). When core body temperature drops by 1 or 2°C (1.8 or 3.6°F), or the body is exposed to severe cold, there is increased risk of cold-related injury. The most common cold-related injuries are hypothermia and frostbite.

When the temperature falls below 10°C (50°F) and a person is exposed to cold air for long periods, their body temperature can drop and cause hypothermia. In some instances, hypothermia can even occur at temperatures warmer than 10°C (50°F) when combined with exposure to wet and windy weather.

Populations at higher risk of experiencing cold-related injuries

Data from emergency departments shows that within the Interior Health Authority and Northern Health Authority most cases of hypothermia occurred at temperatures of 0°C (32°F) or colder. Within the Fraser Health Authority, Island Health Authority, and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, most cases occurred at temperatures of 10°C (50°F) or colder.

People at higher risk of cold-related injuries include those:

experiencing homelessness (people who are unsheltered, unhoused, or living in places not intended for permanent habitation)
who use substances, including alcohol, that change their ability to feel the effects of cold exposure or to respond to cold conditions
who spend long periods of time outdoors for work or recreation
living in housing without adequate insulation or without the ability to generate enough heat (also known as fuel poverty)
with disabilities, limited mobility, certain medical conditions such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy (muscle weakness, tingling, numbness) and diseases affecting the blood vessels
taking certain medications including beta-blockers
those over 60 years of age, infants and young children

Recognizing when someone is suffering from a cold-related emergency and how to respond

To learn how to recognize when someone may be suffering from a cold-related emergency and how best to respond, see:

Cold-Related Emergencies: Staying Warm and Safe in Canadian Winters (Canadian Red Cross Society)
Information from HealthLinkBC:
Preparing for Cold Weather Events (BCCDC)

Find more cold weather preparedness resources for you and your community:

ClimateReadyBC’s Extreme cold and winter storms
PreparedBC’s
- Winter Weather and Storm Preparedness Guide (PDF, 12.6MB)
- Severe winter weather and storm social media package

Did you find what you were looking for?

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

More topics