Table 2. Local health department director's perceptions about specific local impacts of climate change.
| Has climate change already affected this health issue in your jurisdiction? | Over the next 20 years, will climate change make this issue more common or severe, less common or severe, or will it remain the same in your jurisdiction? | ||||||||
| Health issue: | Yes | No | DK | NA | More | Less | Same | DK | NA |
| Heat waves and heat-related illnesses | 56.4 (75) | 33.1 (44) | 8.3 (11) | 2.3 (3) | 72.9 (97) | 0.8 (1) | 15.0 (20) | 8.3 (11) | 3.0 (4) |
| Storms (including hurricanes) and floods | 47.4 (63) | 41.4 (55) | 11.3 (15) | 0.0 (0) | 57.9 (77) | 1.5 (2) | 24.1 (32) | 16.5 (22) | 0.0 (0) |
| Droughts, forest fires, or brush fires | 46.6 (62) | 40.6 (54) | 9.0 (12) | 3.8 (5) | 59.4 (79) | 0.8 (1) | 19.5 (26) | 18.0 (24) | 2.3 (3) |
| Vector-borne infectious diseases | 42.1 (56) | 38.3 (51) | 19.5 (26) | 0.0 (0) | 56.4 (75) | 3.0 (4) | 21.1 (28) | 19.5 (26) | 0.0 (0) |
| Water- and food-borne diseases | 18.0 (24) | 64.7 (86) | 16.5 (22) | .08 (1) | 36.1 (48) | 1.5 (2) | 34.6 (46) | 27.1 (36) | 0.8 (1) |
| Anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions | 21.1 (28) | 45.9 (61) | 27.8 (37) | 5.3 (7) | 40.6 (54) | 0.8 (1) | 19.5 (26) | 36.1 (48) | 3.0 (4) |
| Quality or quantity of fresh water available to your jurisdiction | 42.9 (57) | 40.6 (54) | 12.8 (17) | 3.8 (5) | 63.2 (84) | 3.0 (4) | 18.0 (24) | 13.5 (18) | 2.3 (3) |
| Quality of the air, including air pollution, in your jurisdiction | 41.4 (55) | 37.6 (50) | 16.5 (22) | 4.5 (6) | 65.4 (87) | 2.3 (3) | 13.5 (18) | 15.8 (21) | 3.0 (4) |
| Unsafe or ineffective sewage and septic system operation | 12.8 (17) | 72.2 (96) | 12.8 (17) | 2.3 (3) | 18.8 (25) | 6.0 (8) | 47.4 (63) | 26.3 (35) | 1.5 (2) |
| Food safety and security | 14.3 (19) | 74.4 (99) | 8.3 (11) | 3.0 (4) | 30.8 (41) | 3.0 (4) | 48.9 (65) | 15.8 (21) | 1.5 (2) |
| Housing for residents displaced by extreme weather events | 18.6 (25) | 69.9 (93) | 7.5 (10) | 3.8 (5) | 42.1 (56) | 0.0 (0) | 37.6 (50) | 18.0 (24) | 2.3 (3) |
| Health care services for people with chronic conditions during service disruptions, such as extreme weather events | 25.6 (34) | 59.4 (79) | 11.3 (15) | 3.8 (5) | 53.4 (71) | 1.5 (2) | 30.1 (40) | 12.0 (16) | 3.0 (4) |
The first entry in each cell is the percent of respondents; second is the actual number of respondents.
DK = Don't Know; NA = No answer was given.