Residents are encouraged to prepare for the extreme weather conditions forecast for the rest of December.
Resources
- If snow falls, please note that District crews will clear roads in this order of priority: major and emergency routes, hills, and curves; then secondary and connector roads; and then residential streets and cul-de-sacs. For more information, see centralsaanich.ca/snow
- Property owners and residents must clear snow and ice within 24 hours of the accumulation of such snow or ice from the sidewalk bordering your properties as per the Central Saanich Streets and Traffic Bylaw.
- If snow accumulates, do not park your vehicle on the street if possible. An empty street makes the passage of snow plows and salt spreaders much easier.
- Walk on the left side of the road (facing traffic) on roadways where there are no sidewalks or the sidewalks are impassable due to snow.
- Please place the snow on the right side of your driveway as you face the road. This will keep snow plows from filling in your driveway as they clear the roads. (Pushing the snow from your driveway onto the road will add to the pack on the roads making a hazardous situation and increases danger.)
- Weather alerts for Greater Victoria from Environment Canada: weather.gc.ca/.
- For a list of emergency warming shelters, visit: smap.bchousing.org/Shelters-ViewController-context-root/faces/shelters_map_frame.jsf.
Tips
- Drivers should ahead and drive according to weather and road conditions. We encourage you to bring warm clothing that does not restrict movement when driving, and ensure your vehicles are equipped with a full tank of fuel, a windshield scraper and snow brush, food and water, a first-aid kit, and other emergency supplies.
- Please be mindful of the needs of pets that are unused to extreme cold and wildlife that are habituated to warmer temperatures (for example, hummingbirds may discover their feeders have frozen).
- Make sure your heating system is working efficiently, seal all cracks and drafts to keep the heat in, clear rain gutters, and remove tree branches that could fall during strong winds.
- Prepare for potential power outages. Develop an emergency plan, put together an emergency kit, and connect with your neighbours. You can start your preparations by reviewing the emergency management resources assembled by the Province of BC.
For more information, see: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021PSSG0079-002429.