Table 2.
Phases of San Diego County’s Excessive Heat Response Plan (County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency 2006).
| Phase | Description | Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| I. Seasonal readiness | Begin monitoring of heat indicators on a daily basis | Public Health Services Administration |
| Announce opening and location of cooling centers, distribute fans and bus passes, if needed | Aging and Independence Services | |
| Develop and revise materials for agencies working with vulnerable populations | Office of Media and Public Affairs | |
| Convene Heat Plan Task Force | Emergency Medical Services | |
| II. Increased readiness | Triggered by credible prediction of prolonged heat or power outages during warmer than normal conditions | Public Health Services Administration |
| Release heat advisory press releases | Aging and Independence Services | |
| Monitor 911 calls, ambulance response, and emergency department visits and fatalities that indicate heat-related symptoms | Office of Media and Public Affairs | |
| Continue to monitor heat indicators | Public Health Services Emergency Medical Services Branch | |
| Notify all agency partners to provide outreach to vulnerable populations | ||
| III. Heat alert | Triggered by excessive hot weather, night temperatures of ≥ 75°F for ≤ 3 days | Public Health Services Administration |
| Continue public outreach | Aging and Independence Services | |
| National Weather Service advisories of excessive heat for ≤ 3 days, or high heat accompanied by blackouts | Public Health Services Emergency Medical Services Branch | |
| Enhance monitoring of 911 and other indicators and outreach to vulnerable populations | Office of Media and Public Affairs | |
| Institute daily calls among all involved agencies | ||
| Twice-daily check-ins with National Weather Service heat index | ||
| IV. Heat emergency | Triggered by ≥ 3 days with a heat indexa >105°F, National Weather Service heat advisories or warnings for ≥ 3 days, abnormal medical emergencies and mortality due to extreme heat | Public Health Services Administration |
| Issue regular media releases and brief public officials | Sherriff Department | |
| Consider declaring a public health emergency | Governor’s OES | |
| Activate Emergency Operation Center and Medical Operation Center | Public Health Services Emergency Medical Services Branch | |
| Send out Emergency Medical Alert Network notification to enrolled medical professionals and county staff | Aging and Independence Services | |
| Twice-daily check-ins with National Weather Service heat index | Office of Media and Public Affairs | |
| Enhance outreach to vulnerable populations and encourage cancelation of school-sponsored sporting events | ||
| Activate reverse 911 systemb to notify vulnerable populations | ||
| Continue to monitor 911 calls and other indicators and daily calls among all involved agencies |
a
Determines how hot it feels based on temperature and relative humidity.
b
Reverse 911 is a system that can place calls to populations to provide emergency information (phone numbers must be preentered).