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?
Improve indoor air quality of homes, public buildings, and commercial spaces.
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DETAILED Strategies from plan
Strategy |
Status |
More Information |
Educate Missoula County residents about options to create safe indoor air. |
UNDERWAY |
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Make portable air cleaners more accessible. |
UNDERWAY |
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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 |
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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 |
Improve health and safety of outdoor workers during heat and wildfire smoke events.
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DETAILED Strategies from plan
Strategy |
Status |
More Information |
Encourage employers to change workplace environment to reduce wildfire smoke and heat exposure. |
PRE-PLANNING |
Increase awareness of physical and mental health impacts of wildfire smoke, heat, and their intersection.
- MontanaWildfireSmoke.org has over 100,000 unique visitors during the summer of 2021.
- New partnerships result in radio ads across the community to help people prepare for wildfire smoke.
- Stay safe during wildfire smoke jingle hits the airwaves.
DETAILED Strategies from plan
Strategy |
Status |
More Information |
Conduct an educational campaign about air quality data, health risks of wildfire smoke, connection between smoke and heat, and activity guidelines. |
UNDERWAY |
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Collaborate with healthcare providers to develop and promote wildfire smoke exposure checklist; educate providers who are unaware. |
UNDERWAY |
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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 |
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Coordinate education efforts to consider best health practices during concurrent heat and smoke events. |
UNDERWAY |
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Conduct an educational campaign about the prevention of and signs of heat related illness for the most vulnerable populations. |
PRE-PLANNING |
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Conduct an educational campaign for healthcare, public safety, and emergency response communities about the connection between heat and aggression. |
NOT INITIATED |
Increase healthcare system capacity to respond to climate impacts.
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DETAILED Strategies from plan
Strategy |
Status |
More Information |
Assess existing mental health resources and increase as needed, scalable to smoke events. |
IMPLEMENTING IN NEAR TERM |
NEWS
Resources & Working Group Members
RESOURCES
Watch: Prepare for Wildfire Smoke
Watch: Prepare for Extreme Heat
Read: Climate Change and Human Health Report
Click: Montana Wildfire Smoke Comprehensive Website
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
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
If you would like to receive more information or would like to apply to join the working group, contact Caroline Lauer.