Emergency and Climate Change PreparednessBy Huseina Abbas

Climate Change Trends and the Impacts on Public Health

IPCC: extreme precipitation events will become more intense and frequent Flooding and storm water runoff

Sea level rise Impacts of flooding

More frequent droughts Less reliable water supply

Increases in particulate matter, ozone, CO2, and temperature Detrimental effects on human health

Climate Change Trends and the Impacts on Public

Health Exceed capacity to

respond

1970-1999: climate related events accounted for 90% of world’s disaster- related fatalities

Climate Change Trends and the Impacts on

Public Health

Increase in infectious diseases, mental health consequences, population dislocation, civil conflict, alterations of ecosystems

Climate Change Preparedness

Human resilience= vulnerability reduction Healthy people, healthy homes,

and healthy communities

Preparation for and response to extreme weather events Risk assessment, warning systems,

mass-care shelters, backup energy sources, evacuation exercises, public education, screenings for physical and mental health

Climate Change Preparedness

Water Rainwater harvesting, storage and

conservation, desalination

Infrastructure Seawalls, dune reinforcement,

marshlands/wetlands

Energy Overhead transmission,

underground cabling

Preparedness in New Jersey CDC: BRACE (Building Resilience Against

Climate Effects)

Striving to create more sustainable/resilient communities

Plan of action... 1. Conduct vulnerability and risk

assessment for the community http://www.prepareyourcommunitynj.or

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2. Develop a coalition of local leaders

3. Incorporate climate change projections into municipal plans

4. Revise land ordinances to respond to climate impacts

Preparedness in New Jersey 5. Reduce impervious cover

6. Encourage more green space and planting of street trees

7. Preserve and restore wetlands, marshes, and open space

8. Discourage development in flood prone areas

9. Advocate reuse of remediated brownfield sites

10. Educate the public

Conclusion Future of humanity

Cooperation of all sectors will be necessary

Emerging role of preparedness

Discussion Questions Quick quiz: In the late 1900s, what percentage of

the world’s disaster-related fatalities were due to climate related events?

Which is more effective? Mitigation or adaptation? Which is more realistic in attaining?

What do you think is the most interesting preparedness strategy being implemented?