Experts Share How to Prepare for Upcoming Heat Waves
A community webinar on June 1, in English and Spanish, will address the dangers of extreme heat and how people can protect themselves and their neighbors
May 26, 2023 SANTA BARBARA, Calif – Ventura County is warming faster than any other county in the contiguous U.S., with neighboring Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties not far behind. Higher temperatures put the health and well-being of the most vulnerable—including agricultural workers, youth, and the elderly—in serious jeopardy.
On Thursday, June 1, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) will bring together local and national experts who are on the frontlines of developing solutions to safeguard community members when temperatures soar.
The free webinar, offered in English and Spanish, runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific. Hosted by CEC’s Executive Director, Sigrid Wright, and moderated by CEC’s Director of Climate Resilience, Em Johnson, additional panelists include Fabiola Gomez, Community Organizer at the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) and Kurt Shickman, Director of the Extreme Heat Initiative for Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center.
In 2021, Ventura County experienced 20 extreme heat events – more than any previously recorded years. This year, experts predict that the County will experience approximately 28 “health caution” days where temperatures surpass 90ºF and put vulnerable communities at risk. Within the next 30 years, the number of “health caution” days is expected to increase to 41 days per year.
Webinar speakers will discuss how rising temperatures on the California Central Coast impact those on the frontlines of heat, and what we’ve learned locally and nationally about how communities can address this urgent issue. Participants will learn how individuals can mobilize to protect those most at risk, and also hear about broader solutions in the works that knit a tighter social fabric, such as neighborhood-based resilience hubs where people can get the help they need when extreme heat hits.
“Extreme heat kills more people per year than any other climate disaster and negatively affects nearly every human activity and society worldwide,” stated Shickman, whose Atlantic Council-based organization has pledged to provide resilience solutions to 1 billion people by 2030. ”The magnitude of the danger cannot be overstated and the number of people exposed to extreme heat only rises as the world urbanizes.”
Turning to the possibilities that exist, Shickman continued, “That’s why we have to work together to mobilize innovative and replicable solutions that build resilience to extreme heat. The actions we take to build heat resilience can have benefits that are as broad as the dangers that heat poses.”
One action already underway is the establishment of community climate resilience hubs that provide centralized disaster services, support, and education to residents who are most vulnerable or at high risk during disasters. The Santa Barbara Regional Climate Collaborative, in partnership with CEC, received a grant to plan and design a network of these resilience hubs.
In an effort to build greater community resilience to extreme climate events, the Community Environmental Council is partnering with Santa Barbara County and several area nonprofits to establish the first three Community Resilience Hubs in our area. These initial hubs will be located in Carpinteria, Cuyama, and Santa Barbara.
The Hubs are designed and operated by the communities they serve. Individuals and organizations are working together to design and plan what services will be offered at these Hubs, and making plans for how to operate during climate disruptions.
“Resilience Hubs, designed for the community, by the community, in key locations provide a powerful way to safeguard our communities,” stated Em Johnson, CEC Director of Climate Resilience. When disasters occur, these strategically placed Hubs ensure a plan is already in place so residents know where to go for help. The Hubs will also enable communities to recover, adapt, and continue to thrive in the wake of disasters.”
Strategies like this offer scalable, multi-benefit solutions to climate impacts. CEC has been developing and advocating for such practical solutions to environmental challenges for over half a century, stretching back to the organization’s founding. Community members interested in learning more about how Resilience Hubs and other solutions to extreme heat impacts can be implemented in their region are encouraged to attend this interactive, online event.
About the Community Environmental Council (CEC):
CEC advances rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis – including ambitious zero carbon goals, drawdown of excess carbon, and protection against the impacts of climate change. CEC was recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, and is led by CEO Sigrid Wright who was recently named 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year. CEC has worked since 1970 to incubate and innovate real life environmental solutions that directly affect the California Central Coast. Our programs lead to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems and reduction of single-use plastic. Learn more about why CEC is one of only five nonprofits in Santa Barbara County to have the highest possible ratings on Charity Navigator and Guidestar at CECSB.org/impact. Find CEC on the web at CECSB.org and on Facebook.com/CECSB, Instagram.com/CEC_SB, Twitter.com/CECSB, and Linkedin.com/company/cecsb/.