City prepares for cold weather

Emergency Preparedness is a year-long responsibility and with cold temperatures in the forecast, now is a great time to make sure you have the right information, resources, and supplies to keep yourself and your family safe.

In the coming days, the city could see forecasted temperatures near -47°C with wind chill. As a result, the City is taking a number of precautions to ensure it is prepared to respond in the event of a cold-weather emergency including:

• Checking generators at its facilities including the Canada Games Centre to ensure they are fueled and operating properly.
• Informing Senior Management and Emergency Personnel of forecasted conditions.
• Advising staff of cold-weather safety guidelines to ensure personnel are safe.
• Planning communications coverage in case we need to reach the public through various channels such as radio or after-hours.

During extreme cold, City services such as transit and road clearing operate as long as possible however extreme cold temperatures put incredible amounts of stress on vehicles and equipment. In the event services are impacted by extreme cold, the City will update the public accordingly.

Residents can also take steps to ensure they are prepared including:

• Preparing a 72-hour Emergency Kit with supplies for you and your family.
• If you have a generator, ensure you have enough fuel. Reminder to never run combustion appliances indoors as this can pose a risk to you and others in your home.
• Check on your friends and neighbours and see if anyone might require additional support in the event of a cold weather emergency.
• With your employer’s support, work from home. Extreme temperatures can be difficult on vehicles, and facilities. In the event of a cold weather emergency, first responders can also experience delays.

For more information on how to prepare for any emergency, visit Whitehorse.ca/emergency.