Table 5. Climate change adaptation activities of local health departments.
Is this a current activity in your health department? | Do you currently or are you planning to incorporate climate change adaptation into your planning? | ||||||
Health issue: | Yes | No | DK | Currently | Planning | No | DK |
Heat waves and heat-related illnesses | 57.1 (76) | 42.1 (56) | 0.8 (1) | 21.8 (29) | 17.3 (23) | 58.6 (78) | 2.3 (3) |
Storms (including hurricanes) and floods | 76.7 (102) | 23.3 (31) | 0.0 (0) | 36.1 (48) | 20.3 (27) | 40.6 (54) | 3.0 (4) |
Droughts, forest fires, or brush fires | 37.6 (50) | 62.4 (83) | 0.0 (0) | 13.5 (18) | 10.5 (14) | 72.2 (96) | 3.8 (5) |
Vector-borne infectious diseases | 94.7 (126) | 4.5 (6) | 0.8 (1) | 39.8 (53) | 13.5 (18) | 43.6 (58) | 3.0 (4) |
Water- and food-borne diseases | 97.0 (129) | 2.3 (3) | 0.8 (1) | 35.3 (47) | 14.3 (19) | 45.9 (61) | 3.8 (5)* |
Anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions | 30.8 (41) | 68.4 (91) | 0.8 (1) | 7.5 (10) | 7.5 (10) | 80.5 (107) | 4.5 (6) |
Quality or quantity of fresh water available to your jurisdiction | 66.9 (89) | 33.1 (44) | 0.0 (0) | 16.5 (22) | 19.5 (26) | 57.9 (77) | 6.0 (8) |
Quality of the air, including air pollution, in your jurisdiction | 50.4 (67) | 48.9 (65) | 0.8 (1) | 20.3 (27) | 12.0 (16) | 64.7 (86) | 3.0 (4) |
Unsafe or ineffective sewage and septic system operation | 78.9 (105) | 20.3 (27) | 0.8 (1) | 30.1 (40) | 7.5 (10) | 57.9 (77) | 4.5 (6) |
Food safety and security | 89.5 (119) | 10.5 (14) | 0.0 (0) | 33.1 (44) | 13.5 (18) | 48.9 (65) | 4.5 (6) |
Housing for residents displaced by extreme weather events | 37.6 (50) | 60.2 (80) | 1.5 (2) | 18.8 (25) | 12.8 (17) | 64.7 (86) | 3.8 (5) |
Health care services for people with chronic conditions during service disruptions, such as extreme weather events | 57.1 (76) | 41.4 (55) | 1.5 (2) | 26.3 (35) | 15.0 (20) | 54.9 (73) | 3.8 (5) |
Emergency preparedness for the above issues | 56.4 (75) | 14.3 (19) | 25.6 (34) | 3.8 (5) |
The first entry in each cell is the percent of respondents; second is the actual number of respondents. DK = Don't Know.
One respondent did not answer this question.