Municipalities on P.E.I. preparing for ‘bitterly cold temperatures’ this weekend

With a cold snap expected to envelop Prince Edward Island this weekend, communities around the province are bracing.

Temperatures are expected to reach as low as -20 C on Saturday and Sunday, with windy conditions also a possibility.

A spokesperson for the province pointed to the government's website, where Islanders can search for reception centres and hours in their area. The site also includes an interactive map to help people find the closest shelter.

The P.E.I. government's Shelter Support Line is 1-833-220-4722 and is toll-free.

“The province works with its community partners to prevent harmful health impacts of extreme weather on those experiencing homelessness," the emailed statement reads. "Anyone in need of shelter should call the Shelter Support Line to connect with services."

CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland said an Arctic air mass will see temperatures in the Maritimes plummet Friday night, and called the forecasted temperatures "biting" — particularly Saturday night and early Sunday morning when wind chill values could make temperatures feel like -30 C.

"Islanders should be prepared for bitterly cold temperatures,” Scotland said.

“While there are currently no advisories in place, temperatures and wind-chill values this cold do pose health risks (frostbite and hypothermia), so please be sure to dress appropriately for the cold and to limit time outdoors for you and your pets during the coldest times of the day.”

Municipalities have plans in place

Wendy Watts, community and business engagement manager with the Town of Stratford, said in an email that the town will be monitoring the weekend weather situation.

If members of the community require emergency support, they should call 211 to be connected to those services. 

“While there are no plans in place to open a reception centre at this time, should the need arise due to extended power outages in the community, the town will be ready to respond,” she said in the email.

JP Desrosiers, Summerside's chief administrative officer, said the forecast is cause for concern for the city’s unhoused population. He said that concern led to conversations with the provincial government, which operates Summerside's emergency shelter.

“Our police department has a really good on-the-ground connection with our unhoused population and has strong awareness of where typically we find unhoused individuals and ensure that they are aware that they ... have access to the warming shelters and as well provide transportation,” Desrosiers said. 

If power is interrupted or curtailed, he said the city’s plan is to open the St. Eleanors Community Centre as a warming centre. He advised residents to stay tuned to social media and news media.

“Our hopes are, obviously, that the power stays on and the lights stay on and people stay warm," he said. "But we're doing what we can in the background to plan and prepare.”

Tracey Laybolt with the Town of Cornwall said in an email that the town “is not pre-emptively planning to open a warming centre.” 

“Should the power go off for an extended period, we will consider opening one in accordance with our Emergency Measures Plan,” she said.

John Jameson, chief administrative officer for Three Rivers, said the town intends to monitor the situation with its emergency co-ordinator and is aware of the possibility of power outages.

An emergency plan is in place, he said, and four reception centres — at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre, the Kings Playhouse in Georgetown, the Cardigan Fire Department and in Lower Montague — are ready to open if needed.

“If there's an extended outage, we would quickly move to open our centres, which are all equipped with generators and an ability to charge devices and [have] water, and a couple of them actually have cots should we have to have people there for an extended period of time,” Jameson said.

“We're prepared, not overly concerned, but we're prepared.”

CBC News reached out to the City of Charlottetown about its plans but did not receive a response.