Heat Alert and Response Systems in Urban and Rural Communities in Canada

• Authors: Peter Berry , Anna Yusa , Toni Morris-Oswald , Anastasia Rogaeva
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Health Canada reviewed national and international literature to develop a framework that identifies best practices for developing and implementing Heat Alert and Response Systems (HARS) to protect citizens from extreme heat events. A comparative case study was conducted based upon the framework and the experiences of two Canadian jurisdictions that piloted many of the best practices in the development of new HARS. Table-top exercises, heat-health vulnerability assessments, and community consultations were used to inform the development and implementation of HARS plans. Implementation of the framework by local authorities revealed different and unique challenges facing rural and urban communities in protecting people from extreme heat events. Opportunities within each pilot for taking effective public health adaptive actions that draw upon existing strengths and resources were also identified. Key aspects of HARS development including those related to education and engagement, development of an alert protocol, creation of a heat response plan, and identification of communication activities should be tailored to the needs of individual communities or regions and be informed by specific characteristics related to existing and future vulnerability.

Keywords

EN

climate change; extreme heat events; heatalert and response systems; adaptive capacity; resiliency; rural; urban; urban heat island

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Change and Adaptation in Socio-Ecological Systems
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1

Dates

received

2014-03-06

accepted

2014-08-20

online

2014-12-12

Contributors

author

Peter Berry

• Climate Change and Health Office,
  Health Canada

author

Anna Yusa

• Environmental Health Program,
  Health Canada

author

Toni Morris-Oswald

• Office of Disaster Management, Manitoba
  Health

author

Anastasia Rogaeva

• Climate Change and Health Office,
  Health Canada

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/cass-2014-0009