PREPARED BY: Environmental Health
DATE: 2026-09-24
SUBJECT: WECHU Extreme Temperature Response Plan 2026
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
Climate change is causing higher temperatures, longer and hotter summers, and more frequent and severe weather events. Extreme temperatures are an increasing public health concern in Windsor-Essex County (WEC) as changes increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, cold-related injuries, and other health impacts. Although extreme temperatures can affect anyone, vulnerable populations such as older adults, infants and young children, people with chronic medical conditions, individuals experiencing homelessness, people with limited mobility, outdoor workers, and those with limited access to cooling or warming spaces are at a greater risk for adverse health outcomes.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) maintains an Extreme Temperature Response Plan (ETRP) as part of its responsibilities under the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS), issued under section 7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, and the associated Health Hazard Response Protocol and Healthy Environments and Climate Change Guideline. These requirements direct boards of health to assess, prevent, and reduce illness from health hazards in the physical environment, including extreme weather and extreme temperatures, and to work with municipalities and other community partners where coordinated action is needed. The ETRP has been updated to support implementation of these requirements and to align with current provincial reference guidance, including Ontario’s Spring and Summer Hazards Preparedness Reference Document and Ontario’s Harmonized Heat Warning and Information System. Although provincial reference documents provide recommended practices rather than enforceable requirements, they help operationalize the OPHS requirements through an annual cycle of planning, readiness, monitoring, response, and recovery, as well as consistent warning, notification, and communication processes.
The purpose of this report is to inform the Board of Health of the updated ETRP and its role in fulfilling WECHU’s public health mandate. The plan is also provided to municipalities because effective prevention of heat- and cold-related illness depends on coordinated local preparedness and response across organizations with complementary authorities and operational roles. Sharing the ETRP enables municipal emergency management, facilities, communications, housing, recreation, social services, and other relevant departments to incorporate public health warning thresholds, protective messaging, priority-population considerations, and recommended actions into local procedures while retaining responsibility for decisions made under municipal mandates.
DISCUSSION
The updated ETRP establishes a regional framework for preparedness, monitoring, communication, and response during extreme heat and cold events across WEC. It supports a consistent approach among partners while recognizing each organization operates within its own mandate, resources, authority, and operational context.
A key objective of the revised plan is to strengthen coordination among the WECHU, municipalities, health care providers, community organizations and other partner agencies using shared warning levels, standardized terminology, consistent public messaging, and clearly identified points of contact during extreme temperature events.
The ETRP includes the following key components:
- A three-tier warning structure for both extreme heat and cold events
- Define roles and responsibilities for the WECHU, municipalities, health care partners, and community organizations
- Recommended actions at each warning level to support preparedness and response activities
- Considerations for protecting priority populations and addressing concurrent hazards, such as power outages and drinking water disruptions
- Guidance to support consistent public communications and coordination across WEC
Municipalities remain responsible for determining and implementing local actions in accordance with their mandates, emergency management programs, available resources, and community needs. The ETRP supports local decision making by providing a common framework that can be used to guide local planning, align communications, and facilitate coordinated action during extreme temperature events.
Consistent with the OPHS expectation that boards of health address physical-environment health hazards and collaborate with community partners, the updated plan has been shared with Chief Administrative Officers of local municipalities. Distribution is intended to support municipal awareness of WECHU’s warning and notification processes, provide a common basis for coordinated public communication and protective action, and enable review by relevant departments and emergency management personnel. Municipalities are encouraged to confirm local contacts and procedures and, where appropriate, incorporate applicable ETRP actions into existing emergency management and response protocols.
The WECHU will maintain the ETRP through ongoing review and updates to incorporate changes in provincial guidance, emerging local risks, and partner input, helping to strengthen municipal and community response efforts.