Terms You Should Know
Evacuation Stages
Evacuation Order
:
You are at risk. Leave the area immediately. Local police or RCMP enforce evacuation orders.Evacuation Alert:
Be ready to leave on short notice. If you leave before or during this alert, it’s called a voluntary evacuation.Evacuation Rescind:
All is currently safe and you can return home. Stay tuned for other possible evacuation alerts or orders.
Flooding Terms
Flood Warning:
River levels have exceeded bankfull or will exceed bankfull imminently, and that flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers will result.Flood Watch:
River levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull. Flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur.High Streamflow Advisory:
River levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly, but, no major flooding is expected. Minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible.Emergency #Hashtags:
Emergency Info BC has compiled a list of evolving, trending and most-used emergency hashtags for your reference.
Heat Terms
Heat Wave:
Heat Index:
Heat Cramps:
Muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are often the first signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.- H
eat Exhaustion:
Heat Stroke:
Sun Stroke:
Excessive Heat Watch:
Excessive Heat Warning:
Heat Index values are forecast to meet or exceed locally defined warning criteria for at least 2 days (daytime highs=105-110° Fahrenheit).Heat Advisory:
Winter Weather Terms
Sleet:
Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery.Wind Chill:
Windchill is the temperature it “feels like” when you are outside. The NWS provides a Windchill Chart to show the difference between air temperature and the perceived temperature and the amount of time until frostbite occurs.Winter Weather Advisory:
Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous. When caution is used, these situations should not be life threatening. The NWS issues a winter weather advisory when conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences that may be hazardous. If caution is used, these situations should not be life-threatening.Winter Storm Watch:
Winter Storm Warning:
A winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area.Blizzard Warning:
F
rost/Freeze Warning:
Below freezing temperatures are expected.Freezing Rain:
Rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees and power lines.
Thunderstorm Terms
Severe Thunderstorm Watch:
Severe Thunderstorm Warning:
Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.
Tsunami Alert Levels
Warning:
This is the highest level of tsunami alert. Warnings are issued due to the imminent threat of a tsunami from a large undersea earthquake, or following confirmation that a potentially destructive tsunami is underway. They may initially be based only on seismic information as a means of providing the earliest possible alert. Warnings advise that appropriate actions be taken in response to the tsunami threat. Such actions could include the evacuation of low-lying coastal areas.Advisory:
This is the second highest level of tsunami alert. Advisories are issued due to the threat of a tsunami that has the potential to produce strong currents dangerous to those in or near the water. Significant inundation is not expected for areas under an Advisory but, coastal zones may be at risk due to strong currents. Appropriate actions by local emergency management personnel may include closing beaches and evacuating harbours and marinas.Watch:
This is the third highest level of tsunami alert. Watches are based on seismic information, without confirmation that a destructive tsunami is underway. There is a potential threat to a zone under a tsunami Watch but, communities have time to prepare. Emergency management personnel and coastal residents should prepare to take action in case the Watch is upgraded.Cancellation:
A “cancellation” cancels any previously issued tsunami messages. It is issued when there is no longer observed evidence of tsunami waves at tide gauge stations. Local conditions may differ from those at tide gauge stations and local authorities should determine the safety of coastlines. Once a cancellation has been issued for a tsunami event, EMBC will no longer issue tsunami messages.
Emergency #Hashtag List
When emergencies hit, the public often wants to be part of the online conversation. #hashtags can be used to connect and share information about emergency response and prevention activities taking place at home and around the world.As a guide, Emergency Info BC has compiled a quick list of evolving, trending and most-used emergency hashtags in British Columbia.
Alerts & Bulletins
#AMBERalert#BCavalanche
#BCflood
#BCwildfire
#earthquake
#evacuation
#landslide
#StormReady or #BCstorm
#tsunami
#volcano
Preparedness Campaigns
#AvalancheAwareness#BurnAwareness
#BCFlood
#FPW (Fire Prevention Week)
#ValentinesDay #Preparedness
#EPWeek (Emergency Preparedness Week)
#Zombie #Preparedness (Zombie Preparedness Week)
#Volunteer or #NVW (National Volunteer Week)
#ShakeOutBC (ShakeOut BC)