Edmontonians have always been exposed to extreme weather conditions—hot summers, freezing cold winters, flash floods, blizzards, hail storms…the list goes on! But with the changing climate, we can expect increases to the frequency and intensity of these types of occurrences.
Recent examples of extreme weather here include last summer’s heat wave, last fall’s wildfire smoke, and severe droughts. With such occurrences, there’s a higher risk of both health issues and property damage.
While we like to take pride in our hardiness and resilience, no one wants to be uncomfortable or have their property damaged when it can be prevented, or at least minimized. Here are a few tips to help you prepare:
• Adapt your home. Insulate to ensure your home’s indoor temperature is comfortable throughout the year. Ensure the landscape near your home is fire resistant. Secure items that could be picked up by wind.
• Be prepared to shelter in place. Gather the provisions that you and your pets would need to stay at home for a few days, including clean water. Identify a room in the home you can shelter in. Ensure that every household member knows how to turn off systems such as heating and air conditioning.
• Be aware. Stay informed of things like emergency alerts, episodes of poor air quality and extreme weather warnings for the area you are in.
For more details and other tips, check out Preparing for Climate Change and watch our Lunchbox Series webinar, Preparing for Extreme Weather, below.