New York State Department of Health Extreme Weather

* New York State Department of Health Extreme Weather Planning & Response Guide Bryon Backenson New York State Department of Health

* Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. In other words, climate change includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, among other effects, that occur over several decades or longer. *

* § New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) § Conducted a research study and provided a report analyzing Climate Change Adaptation in NYS § The group developed projections for NYS based on 16 global climate models and 3 emission scenarios § These findings were then applied to 8 sectors: Water Resources, Coastal Zones, Ecosystems, Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, Telecommunications, and Public Health

* § Temperatures will facilitate extreme weather events on their own (extreme cold, extreme hot) § § Increased stagnant air events - expanded durations of ozone Increased rates of mortality Extreme precipitation - increased flooding potentials § § Increased potential for extreme events (e. g. hurricanes) Diminished water and food supply quality Interruption of service delivery - healthcare, etc. Increased respiratory illness related to flooding conditions (e. g. Mold) Air Pollution/Aeroallergens § Impacts to air quality

* § In 2012 the Office of Health Emergency Preparedness pulled together an internal workgroup of Subject Matter Experts: § § § Environmental Health Epidemiology Public Information Emergency planning & response Key considerations for the Extreme Weather Plan § What plans currently exist? (e. g. Coastal Storm Plan, All Hazards Plan) § § How would this plan fit into the existing planning universe? How do we define response actions for Extreme Weather?

* § NYSDOH currently maintains an All Hazards based Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, which includes the Department’s Incident Management System Plan § IMS is the Department’s adaptation of Incident Command establishes the methods, roles and responsibilities for the department in ALL emergencies § The Extreme Weather Planning & Response Guide sits as an Appendix in the IMS Annex § The Plan: § § § Defines extreme weather events in New York Identifies the Department’s role in a defined weather event Outlines the Department’s actions

§ § This also included identifying weather conditions specific to New York State - § Lake Effect Snow Watches & Warnings The work group first defined Extreme Weather Events using National Weather Service and NOAA

§ Primary Response actions were defined, including Departmental resources often used in an emergency § The group defined by EVENT TYPE potential consequences and recovery concerns as well as Potential Secondary Events § e. g. Hurricane High Winds and Flooding Power outages

* § The NYSDOH Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan is formally updated every 4 years, however, portions are updated as needed § Hurricane Sandy 2012 § § Primary plans used for response were the NYC Coastal Storm Plan and the NYS Response and Recovery Annexes § While the Extreme Weather Planning & Response Guide was not formally implemented, the public messaging included in the plan is a primary response role § More on Sandy tomorrow… The plan has been used in 3 additional EOC activations for severe winter weather § e. g. Winter Storm NEMO, January 2013

* § Department preparedness/awarness and “culture change” § Do other areas of DOH know about impacts of climate change? § Sometimes get lost in the shuffle, with much emphasis on disasters, severe weather events, etc. § Changes are perhaps slow to be noticed, but will persist for years and tax the (already shrinking) public health infrastructure § § Changing ranges of zoonotic and arthropod-borne diseases due to impacts of climate on their vectors, hosts, and reservoirs § Impacts on foodborne and waterborne diseases due to changes in agriculture, food handling, use of HVAC equipment, etc. Need to plan for these as well § § May start as disaster or emergency Many coupled with increases in technology, leading to increased burden

* Thanks to all those who contributed to these slides and this work: Sarah-Anne Roberts, Millie Eidson, Kathleen Clancy, Ed Fitzgerald, Shao Lin, Hwa-Gan Chang NYS Office of Heath Emergency Preparedness 518. 474. 2893