Building a Decision-Support Tool for Adaptation to Extreme Heat

Human vulnerability to extreme heat can be a difficult measure to quantify and effectively "operationalize" for key decision-makers. Existing heat alerts are sensitive to scale and context, often leaving public officials with insufficient forecast data, lack of coherent guidance, and an absence of tools that can accurately represent local heat-health risks. While local forecast data and extreme weather outlooks continue to improve, stakeholders are asking for decision-support about interoperability and appropriate interventions to reduce heat-health risks for vulnerable populations. This presentation will discuss the information needs determined by public health officials in California with funding from California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Findings from a user needs assessment will be followed by a discussion of methods for assessing and situating heat vulnerability in space and developing user-centric tools that can help public health professionals and planners prepare their communities for excessive heat.