Opinion: How we can better protect all residents during WA’s next heat wave

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Drs. Jason Vogel and Jeremy Hess write about the recent report, “In the Hot Seat: Saving Lives from Extreme Heat in Washington State,” for the Seattle Times. “We clearly need to prepare for extreme heat going forward. If we do not take the lessons of 2021 to heart, the consequences will be predictable and devastating. We have been warned.”

Saving lives in heat waves

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Two years after the deadly Pacific Northwest heat dome, new research findings from the UW, Gonzaga, the state department of health and the state climatologist’s office offers ways to prevent loss of life in future excessive heat waves.

New report, tool suggest how Washington can better protect against extreme heat

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Two years following the 2021 heat dome, a collaborative effort led by two University of Washington teams, the Climate Impacts Group and the Center for Health and the Global Environment, or CHanGE, has drawn up recommendations for how people and groups across the state could prevent future heat-related illness and save lives. The Climate Impacts Group’s latest report on extreme heat in Washington State is referenced. Dr. Jason Vogel is quoted.

What can be learned from the Pacific Northwest’s 2021 heat wave

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A new report reveals strategies to prevent the hundreds of deaths tied to the prolonged heat wave that hit the Pacific Northwest for several weeks in late June and July 2021, leading to a widespread public health emergency that strained the state’s emergency and healthcare systems. The Climate Impacts Group’s latest report on extreme heat in Washington State is referenced.

Can Seattle take the heat? Officials say area is better prepared this summer

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Emergency officials say the Seattle area is better prepared for extreme temperatures this summer than it was before the Northwest’s deadly heat dome of 2021. But making the region thoroughly heat-proof could take many years, and climate activists say government is not moving with the urgency that a climate crisis deserves. The Climate Impacts Group’s latest report on extreme heat in Washington State is referenced.

A New Climate Planning Tool for Local Governments

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The Climate Impacts Group has created a publicly available web application to help local jurisdictions navigate the large volume of climate information available for Washington and apply it in their climate resilience planning. Research Scientist Matt Rogers explains what the tool is and how it can be used in this blog post published by the Municipal Research and Services Center.

Workshop: Resilience planning for small water systems in Washington

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Virtual Workshop: Resilience planning for small water systems in Washington
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
9 a.m.–noon

This workshop has past. You can access a recording of the workshop or learn more about this project below. 

WORKSHOP RECORDING

PROJECT PAGE

In 2021, Washington experienced record heat, precipitation deficits, low streamflows and declining aquifer levels. The fall and winter has brought record rains and flooding that damaged water system infrastructure. Climate change impacts water systems in Washington in a variety of ways. If operators have insufficient information about how their systems are at risk, the reliability and quality of drinking water could be compromised.

Working collaboratively, the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington and Department of Health Office of Drinking Water are offering a virtual workshop on March 1, 2022 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm) to demonstrate ways that small-to-medium sized water utilities can use climate data to help assess their risk and plan to build resilience. 

This workshop is intended for water system leaders, certified operators, and water system engineers who know that their communities depend on safe, reliable drinking water — especially during and in the aftermath of extreme weather events.

This three-hour virtual workshop will feature speakers from the Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington, Office of the Washington State Climatologist, and the Department of Health. These sessions will cover climate impacts related to drought, surface water supply, groundwater availability, and water quality, and how this might affect water system resilience. There will also be an interactive session to assist participants with how to consider climate impacts in resilience planning, along with a brief overview of available tools and resources to support water system adaptation. 

Continuing Education Units are available for participating water system operators.

Case Studies Illustrate How Water Utilities May Adapt to Climate Change

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Changing climate has far-reaching impacts, and is testing parts of society’s ability to continue doing business-as-usual.  Among these are water utilities, the entities responsible for delivering clean, fresh water to our nation’s households and managing wastewater and stormwater. The UW Climate Impacts Group in partnership with the Water Utility Climate Alliance is currently helping meet that need by assisting water managers and water utilities understand how climate change will impact their systems and what measures they can adopt now to be proactive in preparing for the future.