Population Health Adaptation Approaches to the Increasing Severity and Frequency of Weather-Related Disasters Resulting From our Changing Climate: A Literature Review and Application to Charleston, South Carolina

Abstract

Recent changes in our planetary climate have and will continue to challenge historical knowledge and risk assumptions for weather-related disasters. While the public health community is rapidly working to develop epidemiological approaches and tools to mitigate and adapt to these weather-related disasters, recent high-profile events have exposed gaps in knowledge and response efforts. Limited work has been done to assess the climate readiness of the local public health and health-care community as it pertains to local response planning and adaptation measures in the event of a weather-related disaster. The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature related to climate change, weather-related disasters, and population health approaches to adapt to climate-related changes in weather-related disasters at the local level. We highlight a brief case-study to illustrate an example of a local approach to adaptation planning in a coastal community. There is a general lack of understanding within the public health community about the epidemiological tools which are available to assist local communities in their preparation for, response to, and recovery from weather-related disasters. Cities around the nation are already working to assess their vulnerability and resilience to weather-related disasters by including climate change in emergency preparedness plans and developing adaptation strategies, as well as equipping local hospitals, health departments and other critical public health systems with climate information. But more work is needed and public health funding is lagging to support local and state-level efforts in preparing for and adapting to weather-related disasters in the context of a changing climate. Our population health disaster preparedness programs need to be adapted to address the increasing risks to local public health resulting from our changing climate.

Integrating Public Health into Climate Change Policy and Planning: State of Practice Update

“…Banwell et al make the case that vulnerability and adaptation assessments are an opportunity to synergistically link disaster risk reduction and adaptation—through commonalities such as vulnerability targeting or use of early warning systems—and that public health has a key role in this important connection [94]. However, Runckle et al note that the public health community generally is unaware of the climate-related epidemiological and assessment tools available, in part due to lack of funding [95]. Reflecting some of these findings, the Lancet Countdown identified eight adaptation-related indicators for global monitoring including the number of national vulnerability and adaptation assessments, national adaptation plans for health, and city climate risk assessments, as well as amount of adaptation funding [2].…”

Assessing perceptions and priorities for health impacts of climate change within local Michigan health departments

“…This lack of knowledge was particularly high for the categories of mental health, air quality-related respiratory disease, and injury or lack of health care access from extreme weather events. This is significant because in the USA, the lack of planning for adequate mental health and health care services during and in the aftermath of major storms has resulted in long-term impacts, particularly for vulnerable populations (Dodgen et al 2016 ; Runkle et al 2018 ). These areas also require intersectional partnerships with other agencies and the healthcare system, but the substantial amount of don’t know responses indicate that LHD respondents may be having difficulties communicating with their potential partners in preparing for climate change in Michigan.…”

How Medical Studies in Poland Prepare Future Healthcare Managers for Crises and Disasters: Results of a Pilot Study

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) identified climate change impacts on health and epidemics as the most urgent health challenges in the next decade [ 21 ]. Medical and management personnel should be prepared for the possibility of an event that will exceed the local response capacity and lead to excessive morbidity and mortality [ 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”