Climate change will bring hotter summers and longer wildfire seasons, both of which can negatively impact human health and stress our agriculture, business, and healthcare sectors.

​Agricultural and outdoor workers, low-income residents, those with pre-existing conditions, and those living in substandard housing are most at risk.

​What can we do to prepare and build resiliency? 

Our community identified several goals and strategies to address Missoula County's human health vulnerabilities given climate change. Each goal and their corresponding strategies are presented below, and you can find strategy-specific implementation details by clicking on its "status." Additionally, relevant resources to each goal are included throughout the page. 

Implementation Highlights

While the goals and strategies are presented individually, we have prioritized a holistic implementation approach that advances many goals and strategies at once. A few highlights are: 
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  • Missoula County co-hosted our first-ever Wildfire Smoke Ready Week in July 2021 with a variety of partners to help residents prepare for wildfire smoke events, including:
    • Brewing a new beer, "Deep Breath," with Imagine Nation Brewing, and taste testing it against the beer of the future if we don't act on climate
    • Airing a catchy jingle across the airwaves
  • Climate Smart Missoula worked with All Nations Health Center, Missoula Food Bank, North Missoula Community Development Corporation, and Partnership Health Center to distribute portable air cleaners for free or at a reduced cost to low-income Missoulians during 2021 summer. 
  • Missoula City-County Health Department is studying indoor air quality of our large commercial spaces and working to integrate ASHRAE's Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire Events (and Missoula's Tom Javins is a lead author!)
  • Missoula County, Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, and Climate Smart Missoula distributed educational materials directly to farmers via CFAC events and Missoula Farmer's Markets. 
  • Missoula County and City of Missoula are working to distribute educational materials via the building permit process. 

Improve indoor air quality of homes during wildfire smoke events.  

Strategy
Status
(click for more information on implementation progress)
Educate Missoula County residents about options to create safe indoor air. 
UNDERWAY
Make portable air cleaners more accessible.
​UNDERWAY

Watch: Prepare for Wildfire Smoke

Improve indoor air quality in (and access to) public and commercial buildings during wildfire smoke and heat events. 

Strategy
Status
(click for more information on implementation progress)
Develop voluntary measures and incentives, such as a certification program for clean air buildings, to encourage safe indoor air in public buildings, schools, and businesses. ​
NOT INITIATED
Find, develop and promote indoor recreation, exercise and creative activity spaces that are available to individuals and recreational programs that are accessible to all income levels. 
PRE-PLANNING
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Currents Center for Recreation and Creativity (click image to learn more)

Improve health and safety of outdoor workers during heat and wildfire smoke events. 

Strategy
Status
​(click for more information on implementation progress)
Encourage employers to change workplace environment to reduce wildfire smoke and heat exposure. 
PRE-PLANNING

Increase awareness of physical health impacts of wildfire smoke, heat, and their intersection. 

Strategy
Status
​(click for more information on implementation progress)
Conduct an educational campaign about air quality data, health risks of wildfire smoke, connection between smoke and heat, and activity guidelines. 
UNDERWAY
Collaborate with healthcare providers to develop and promote wildfire smoke exposure checklist; educate providers who are unaware. 
​UNDERWAY
Encourage healthcare providers to work with sensitive subgroups to reduce controllable exposures and have a plan in place before wildfire smoke arrives.
IMPLEMENTING IN NEAR TERM
Coordinate education efforts to consider best health practices during concurrent heat and smoke events.
​​UNDERWAY
Conduct an educational campaign about the prevention of and signs of heat related illness for the most vulnerable populations.
PRE-PLANNING
Conduct an educational campaign for healthcare, public safety, and emergency response communities about the connection between heat and aggression. 
NOT INITIATED

Watch: Prepare for Extreme Heat

Read: Climate Change and Human Health Report

Increase awareness of mental health impacts of climate change. 

Strategy
Status
​(click for more information on implementation progress)
Educate the public and healthcare providers about the mental health impacts of wildfire smoke and other climate vulnerabilities, including those specific to agricultural community. 
IMPLEMENTING IN NEAR TERM

Increase healthcare system capacity to respond to climate impacts. 

Strategy
Status
​(click for more information on implementation progress)
Assess existing mental health resources and increase as needed, scalable to smoke events. 
IMPLEMENTING IN NEAR TERM

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Are you a health professional who wants to get involved? Click on the logo above to find out more.

NEWS & WORKING GROUP MEMBERS

Working Group Members
WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
Amy Cilimburg, Climate Smart Missoula
Sarah Coefield, Missoula City-County Health Department
​Rebecca Elderkin, All Nations Health Center
Donna Gaukler, City of Missoula Parks and Recreation
Caroline Lauer, Missoula County
​Eric Legvold, United Way of Missoula County
Diana Maneta, Missoula County
Beth Schenk, Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Amber Sherrill, Missoula City Council Member
Dave Strohmaier, Missoula County Commissioner
Shannon Therriault, Missoula City-County Health Department
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