Hazards

Extreme temperatures can be dangerous to your health and the health of your loved ones. It’s important to know what to do to keep yourself safe when it gets hot.

Learn more about preparing for extreme heat.

Understanding heat alerts

There are two levels of significant heat alerts issued by Environment Canada: a heat warning and an extreme heat emergency. 

Note: Environment Canada may issue a special weather statement – this is the least urgent type of alert. It is issued to let you know that conditions are unusual and could cause concern.

Staying cool

When temperatures heat up, the City of Port Moody takes steps to help residents and visitors stay cool. This includes opening cooling centres, setting up misting tents and portable water filling stations, and extending the hours of local spray parks.

Looking for cooling centres open in the Metro Vancouver region? Check the hot weather resources on the B.C. government’s Emergency Map.

Additional resources

• What to do during a heat event (Fraser Health)
• Preparing for Heat Events (BCCDC)
• Beat the heat (PreparedBC)
• Protect yourself from extreme heat (Government of Canada)
• Extreme Heat Resource List (Fraser Health)
• Extreme heat event resources (Government of Canada)
• Tips for staying cool (BC Hydro)
• Free portable air conditioners (BC Hydro)

Port Moody is surrounded by forests and parks which means there is a risk of wildfires. Help yourself, your family, and your neighbours prepare for a wildfire before it happens. 

Get prepared for a wildfire and learn about how they can affect your health.

Visit FireSmart Canada to learn how you can make your home and community “FireSmart.”

Information and resources:

• interactive wildfire map
• fire bans and restrictions
• fire danger rating
• BC Wildfire Service (Facebook)
• BC Wildfire Service (X)

As wildfire smoke events become more frequent and severe, days with poor air quality that can impact your health increase. Clean indoor air is the best way to protect health during wildfire smoke events.

Visit the BC Air Quality website to check the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). The provincial government’s AQHI gives air quality ratings and health messages for 22 B.C. communities. Use the AQHI to understand the air quality in your community and to help you make decisions about outdoor activities. Since air quality can change quickly, the AQHI can provide important guidance for activities and events in addition to air quality alerts issued by Metro Vancouver and the B.C. Ministry of Environment.

Additional resources:

• Wildfire Smoke and Pregnancy Factsheet (BCCDC)
• Guidance for Outdoor Events for Smoke and Heat (VCH)
• Wildfire Smoke during Heat Event Factsheet (BCCDC)  

With nearly 80 kilometres of streams extending throughout the city, heavy rainfall can potentially cause local or widespread flooding or flash floods. Be aware of rising water levels in local creeks or the inlet – they can increase the risk of flooding and debris flow.

The River Forecast Centre website issues advisories and warnings about current or expected flood risks. 

Get prepared for floods.

Additional resources:

• A Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management
• Flood planning

While windstorms are uncommon in Port Moody, they can cause significant damage. Winds that reach 70 kilometres per hour or more can break large tree branches or uproot entire trees, causing power outages, property damage, and blocked roads. 

Get prepared for a power outage and understand storm safety.

Before a storm

• Stay informed. Environment and Climate Change Canada will issue wind warnings for the Metro Vancouver area. You can also check weather forecasts via radio, television, websites, and social media.
• Ensure trees on your property are properly pruned, planted in an appropriate place, regularly inspected by an arborist, and watered properly. If necessary, have dead trees cut down.
  • Call City of Port Moody Operations at 604.469.4574 if a tree on municipal property looks like it might be a hazard.
• Tie down anything that might blow away in the wind (garden furniture, garbage cans, etc.).
• Identify places where you and your family can take shelter.
• Make sure you have flashlights and extra batteries on hand, in case the power goes out.

Prepare your home for a power outage.

During a storm

• If you’re indoors, stay there. Take shelter away from windows and avoid using elevators in case of a power outage.
• If you are outside, head inside as quickly as possible. Avoid taking shelter under a tree, in case of falling branches or lightning strikes.
  • If you see a downed power line, assume the line is live and stay back at least 10 metres, then call 9.1.1 for help.
• If you are in a car, pull over away somewhere safe. This means away from trees and powerlines, and not in areas in danger of landslides or flooding. Stay in the car until the danger passes.
• If the power goes out, check the BC Hydro outage map for updates.

After the storm

• Stay calm and be patient. Many households will likely need help.
• Check your property for damage. Watch for broken glass and look up to check for hazards, as broken branches may hang dangerously overhead. If trees or branches are interfering with power lines, call BC Hydro at 1.800.224.9376. Report fallen trees, branches, and other debris on municipal property by calling City of Port Moody Operations at 604.469.4574 or submitting a report a problem form.
  • Trees on private property are the responsibility of property owners. You may require tree permits to remove or significantly prune fallen trees.
  • Do not attempt to remove a damaged, fallen, or leaning tree on your own.
  • If your property or vehicle has been damaged by a tree on municipal property, please visit Claims to review steps to take if your property has been damaged or in the event of bodily injury.
• Clear away debris from rain gutters and catch basins.
• If you see a downed power line, assume the line is live and stay back at least 10 metres, then call 9.1.1 for help.
• Continue to check radio, television, websites, or social media for updated information or instructions, as access to roads or some parts of the community may be blocked.
• Be a good neighbour. Help people who may require special assistance, such as parents with small children, people with disabilities, and seniors.

Earthquakes happen regularly in B.C. While most of them are not strong enough to feel, there is potential for a megathrust earthquake large enough to cause a major damage.

Practice earthquake response with ShakeOutBC. View their drill manuals and planning documents for more information.

Learn what to do:

• before an earthquake
• during an earthquake
• after an earthquake

Read more about:

• earthquake activity in Canada
• earthquake risk in Canada
• the Earthquake Early Warning system

Get prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis.

Winter weather in Port Moody can bring with it potentially dangerous issues. It’s important to know how to keep yourself safe and how to winterize your home.

• Stay informed. Environment and Climate Change Canada will issue cold weather warnings for the Metro Vancouver area.
• Watch out for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
• Avoid driving if possible, particularly on very steep or winding roads. For tips on driving in the snow, check out the ICBC Winter Driving page.
• Avoid parking on public roads so your vehicle does not obstruct snow removal equipment. Seasonal parking restrictions apply in a few areas of the city where it is especially difficult for snowplows to pass next to parked cars.
• Clear any drains near your property, as blocked catch basins can cause flooding, or lead to excess water along the road area (which can become dangerous if it freezes).
• To help prepare yourself for winter emergencies, use the Winter Readiness Checklist (PDF) from Fraser Health.

Get prepared for winter weather and snow and cold safety for your home. 

Staying warm

Anyone looking for a place to warm up is welcome to visit the public areas of the Port Moody Recreation Complex (300 Ioco Road) or the Civic Centre (100 Newport Drive) during regular operating hours. 

From January - April, Progressive Housing Society operates a winter shelter (PDF), with pick up and drop off at three locations in the Tri-Cities.

Frost bite and hypothermia

Look for the 4 "P"s of frostbite:

• pink - affected areas will be reddish in colour (this is the first sign of frostbite)
• pain - affected areas will become painful
• patches - white, waxy feeling patches show up where skin is dying
• pricklies - these areas will then feel numb 

If you think someone might have frostbite, call 8.1.1 for advice. If the symptoms look more severe, seek immediate medical attention and call 9.1.1.

Tips to prevent frostbite:

• Get to a warm area before frostbite sets in. If it is too cold outside, consider staying indoors.
• Keep extra mittens and gloves in the car, house or school bag. Wear larger sized mittens over your gloves.
• Wear a hat that fully covers your ears.
• Wear a neck warmer to protect the chin, lips and cheeks. They are all extremely susceptible to frostbite.
• Wear waterproof winter boots with room for an extra layer of socks. Wear two pairs of socks - wool if possible.
• Make sure you are able to wiggle your toes in your boots. This air space around your toes acts as insulation.
• Avoid drinking alcohol if you plan to be outside; it can cause the body to lose heat faster.
• Plan to protect yourself: carry emergency supplies and warm clothes and let others know your travel plans. 

Hypothermia

It doesn’t need to be below freezing to get hypothermia. People can become hypothermic from a short exposure to severe cold or longer exposure to mild to moderate temperatures.  

Look for the "UMBLES" from people affected by cold temperatures:

• a person who mumbles
• a person who stumbles
• a person who fumbles objects 

Also look for:

• shivering (shivering may stop if body temperature falls below 32 degrees Celsius)
• confusion
• pale, cold, blue-grey skin
• numbness
• slow, shallow breathing
• slow pulse
• difficult to wake up 

If you notice someone displaying any of the signs above, seek immediate medical attention and call 9-1-1. 

Tips to prevent hypothermia:

• Wear clothes in layers or ensure those in your care do.
• inner layer (closest to the skin) - should have "wicking" properties to move any moisture away from the skin
• middle layer - should be the insulating layer to prevent loss of your body heat while keeping the cold outside air away
• outer layer - should be the "windbreaking" layer to reduce the chances of cold air reaching the insulating layer
• Drink warm fluids and avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol use is associated with hypothermia. It promotes heat loss can lead to a false sense of warmth.
• Avoid sweating as this can lead to wet clothes, which can increase your risk of hypothermia. While doing physical labour or activity, remove some layers to avoid getting too hot. Once you are done the activity, put your layers back on to keep warm.
• Wear a hat - up to 40 per cent of body heat loss can occur through the head.
• Wear gloves or mittens or both!
• Wear a neck warmer to protect the chin, lips, and cheeks. 

Snow and ice removal

When it snows, City crews work to clear travel routes in a priority sequence, plowing and salting major roads, transit corridors, and connector routes, as well as particularly hazardous areas. The City also works to clear high priority sidewalks, including pedestrian bridge crossings, and walkways near transit centres and civic facilities, including the Recreation Complex, Works Yard, City Hall, and Inlet Centre Fire Hall. Visit portmoody.ca/snowandice for details on snow and ice removal, including a map of priority routes. 

Residents, strata corporations, and business owners must remove snow or ice from sidewalks and curb letdowns bordering their property within 24 hours of a snowfall or storm event, per the Sidewalk and Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw. Owners of private property along Priority Pedestrian Routes are required to clear adjacent sidewalks of snow and ice by 10am every day. Property and business owners must also clear snow around fire hydrants to ensure emergency access. 

Snow shovelling tips

• Use the shovel to push snow to one side rather than lifting it. If lifting is necessary, bend your knees to take the strain off your back.
• Pace yourself by removing small amounts of snow frequently instead of removing a large pile all at once.
• Do not shovel snow from sidewalks or driveways onto the road, as this creates more work for snow plows and may result in a plow pushing the snow back onto your driveway. Instead, face your house and pile the white stuff to the left of your driveway (on your property, not on the road or sidewalk), as this gives you a better line of sight to approaching traffic.
• Spread sand, rock salt, or kitty litter on your sidewalk or driveway to increase traction and reduce accidents.

Prevent your pipes from freezing

If you experience a loss of water during cold temperatures and suspect that your water service connection may be frozen, you'll need to contact a plumber.

Here are some tips to prepare for cold weather:

• turn off the water supply from your house to the hose
• wrap pipes in insulation, especially hose bibs
• consider putting heat tape on any exposed pipes
• seal air leaks in your home and garage, especially in areas where pipes are located
• when temperatures drop below zero, consider running a continuous stream (about the width of a standard drinking straw) of cold water from a small interior faucet to help prevent your pipes from freezing (do this only until the weather starts to warm up)

Port Moody is an industrial and transportation hub, so trains, trucks, and boats carrying chemicals or fuel pass through the area regularly. While there are lots of safety measures in place, there’s still a chance of an accidental spill. If a spill occurs, you may need to evacuate or shelter in place.

Get prepared for a hazardous material spill.

If you encounter a hazardous material spill, report a problem by calling Environment and Parks at 604.469.4574.