The Collaborative on Extreme Heat Events was formed in 2023 with support and coordination from the University of Washington to offer a forum for public health agencies serving the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, BC, to share their experiences and innovations in responding to extreme heat.
The Pacific Northwest was unprepared for the 2021 Heath Dome, with many people dying or suffering from heat-related illnesses as a result. Following the Heat Dome, regional leaders called on their public health agencies to prevent future heat waves from having such a devastating impact on human health.
The Collaborative on Extreme Heat Events, established in 2023 with support from the UW Center for Disaster Resilient Communities and the Urban@UW Research to Action Collaboratory, brings together public health and partner agencies representing the Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, BC metro areas to work on identifying extreme heat response innovations and partnership opportunities that advance public health and improve community resilience in the face of climate change.
The near-term objective of the Collaborative is to co-develop an action and research agenda through an 18-month process that includes a peer-sharing webinar series and a participatory workshop.
Learn more about the Collaborative through the recent peer-sharing webinar series:
Experiences from the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome
Early Warning Systems for Extreme Heat
Extreme Heat Events and the Built Environment
Extreme Heat and Community Partnerships
The Collaborative on Extreme Heat Events will host a participatory, virtual workshop in April 2024 to bring together public health and other public sector representatives, academic and research partners, community partners and other organizations with a role in extreme heat preparedness or response. The aims of the workshop include:
- Nurturing a transdisciplinary network from the metropolitan areas of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland focused on climate and health equity.
- Identifying successes, challenges, gaps and priorities relating to extreme heat events.
- Developing actionable recommendations and a research agenda to facilitate partnerships and continued learning about climate and health interventions.
Following the workshop, the Collaborative will publish a report summarizing the identified action recommendations and research agenda.
- Bradley Kramer, Public Health – Seattle & King County
- Daaniya Iyaz, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
- Brendon Haggerty, Multnomah County Health Department
- Jairaj Singh, Multnomah County Health Department
- Michael Schwandt, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Craig Brown, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Resham Patel, University of Washington
- Nicole Errett, University of Washington
- Mary Hannah Smith, University of Washington
Please provide your contact information if you are interested in receiving updates regarding the Collaborative’s activities.
Questions regarding the Collaborative can be directed to Mary Hannah Smith via email at smithmh@uw.edu.