Whereas extended power outages increasingly affect rural and remote communities due to severe weather events, including windstorms and winter storms, which are increasing in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change; And whereas reliable access to warm, safe, and accessible community spaces during extended power outages is critical for public safety, particularly for vulnerable populations including seniors, families with young children, people with disabilities, and residents without secondary heat sources; And whereas current provincial Emergency Management and Climate Readiness EMCR funding programs do not provide support for the activation and operation of warming or emergency community centres during power outages unless a secondary disaster trigger is present: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the Province of British Columbia to expand Emergency Management Climate Readiness EMCR policies and funding programs to support the activation, operation, and resourcing of warming and emergency community centres in rural and remote communities during extended power outages, including events that occur outside of existing temperature thresholds or without a secondary disaster trigger.
