On climate justice: Extreme weather and planning for emergencies
In Ramsey County, climate change is causing periods of extreme cold, extreme heat, drought and flooding. This severe weather negatively affects our health, safety and wellbeing. Black/African American, American Indian and other underrepresented communities in the county are more likely to experience the negative impacts of severe weather. This article highlights the resources the county offers to plan for and lessen the negative impacts of four types of severe weather events:
- Extreme cold is caused by the arctic's polar vortex shifting downward due to changing global wind patterns caused by climate change. Extreme cold threatens our health by causing frostbite, hypothermia, injury and death, travel danger; and power-grid instability. Find information on locations of public warming centers, home weatherization tips, emergency housing support and winter travel guidance on Ramsey County's Winter Storms and Extreme Cold resource page.
- Burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation produces greenhouse gases that trap solar heat closer to the earth's surface causing temperatures to rise resulting in periods of extreme heat. Extreme heat can cause heat stroke, heart disease and respiratory stress, particularly when coupled with poor air quality. Ramsey County's Extreme Heat Resources include public cooling centers and information on how to stay cool and hydrated at home.
- Warm temperatures encourage evaporation leading to drier soil conditions and drought. Among many other impacts, drought can lead to wildfires, crop stress, poor air quality from soil particles and more mosquito-borne illness from stagnant water. To address these impacts, you can learn about your risk related to wildfire, reduce water use in your home and limit opportunities for mosquitoes to spread disease.
- As air warms it is able to hold onto more water vapor. When air holds more moisture it can produce more intense precipitation events. When drought or development makes the ground impermeable, intense precipitation causes floods. Flooding can affect health by damaging property and limiting transportation networks, spreading water borne disease, promoting mold growth in homes, or causing injury or death. Understand your risk to flood, prepare your home and make an emergency preparedness plan for your family.
Fill out this survey to share your concerns and ideas around resources the county should offer to help residents adapt to climate change with the county's Climate and Health Planner, and stay tuned to the county website and social media channels for more opportunities to get involved.