City of Hamilton Community Heat Response Plan
Organization: City of Hamilton
Year: 2023
The City of Hamilton, in consultation with community partners, has developed the Community Heat Response Plan to help citizens cope with intense heat events. The Community Heat Response Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Plan) alerts the public that hot weather conditions are imminent or occurring and outline services that will be provided to Hamilton residents. The goal is to provide support and information for those most at-risk of heat-related illness.
The heat season is from Victoria Day Weekend to Labour Day Weekend however it is dependent on the weather patterns hence this plan could be activated outside of this time.
This initiative was developed collaboratively by agencies in Hamilton, forming the Community Heat Response Committee (CHRC) in 2002. All agencies participating in the development of this initiative have agreed to voluntarily provide services during a Heat Warning, or an Extended Heat Warning. Since the introduction of the Plan in 2008, several heat events have tested the effectiveness of existing services and the merit of the Plan. The Plan has proved to be successful in helping citizens safely respond to these events.
The Plan provides a framework for the coordination and implementation of hot weather response activities aimed at reducing the impact of intense heat events on the population.