Wellington County Climate Adaptation Plan - Public Workshop 3

Health, Community Services and Emergency Preparedness

Objective 1: Reduce health risks associated with extreme temperatures, poor air quality, and climate-sensitive diseases.

Action 1.1: Develop a Coordinated Extreme Temperature Response Program

Develop a coordinated Extreme Temperature Response Program that improves equitable access to cooling, warming, and clean air spaces, reduces barriers for vulnerable populations, and strengthens community resilience to extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, and poor air quality across both urban and rural areas of Wellington County. The program should integrate facility planning, transportation support, drinking water access, public outreach, heat-health response protocols, and long-term resilience planning.

Cooling and warming centres are activated during Environment Canada Extreme Heat Warnings and Extreme Cold Warnings throughout Guelph-Wellington. Existing facilities include libraries, community centres, municipal facilities, and social service locations. Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health provides extreme temperature alerts, public education, and the ClimateSafe Map, which identifies cooling, warming, and clean air spaces throughout the region.

  1. Facility Planning and Assessment
    • Conduct a Cooling and Warming Centre Network Assessment to evaluate facility capacity, accessibility, operating hours, and transportation access. 
    • Evaluate opportunities to expand access to facilities during extreme temperature events
  2. Heat Alert and Response System (HARS)
    • Launch a coordinated Heat Alert and Response System with defined alert thresholds based on Environment Canada warnings. 
    • Establish activation protocols, roles, and responsibilities for Public Health, Emergency Management, municipalities, and community partners. 
  3. Multi-hazard Preparedness and Riss Awareness 
    • Explore updated and integrate use of flood forecasting, mapping to identify vulnerable population and inform preparedness efforts 
    • Incorporate flood risk information and severe weather preparedness into public education, outreach and emergency preparedness. 
  4. Transportation and Access
    • Explore transportation supports opportunities for rural residents, seniors, low-income households, and people with disabilities during extreme temperature events. 
    • Evaluate opportunities to provide emergency drinking water distribution and maintain food access and food safety during prolonged heat events and power outages.
  5. Community Outreach and Communications
    • Establish partnerships with social service agencies and community organizations serving unhoused and vulnerable populations. 
    • Improve public awareness of available cooling and warming resources through multiple communication channels. 
    • Develop heat-health educational resources to help residents prepare for and respond to extreme heat events.

Action 1.2: Strengthen Monitoring and Public Awareness of Vector-Borne Diseases

Increase community preparedness for climate-sensitive diseases by enhancing surveillance, improving public awareness of health risks, and strengthening collaboration among public health agencies, municipalities, and community partners to support timely response and risk reduction.

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health conducts mosquito surveillance, public education, and disease monitoring in partnership with Public Health Ontario and provincial agencies.

  1. Surveillance and Risk Assessment
    • Monitor emerging climate-sensitive disease risks and assess potential impacts on Wellington County residents.
    • Incorporate climate change considerations into vector-borne disease surveillance and public health planning.
  2. Public Education and Awareness
    • Increase public awareness of vector-borne diseases and preventative measures.
    • Develop targeted educational resources for populations at greater risk of exposure, including outdoor workers and recreation users.
  3. Partnerships and Coordination
    • Continue collaboration with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, municipalities, healthcare providers, Conservation Authorities, and community organizations.
    • Support coordinated information sharing and preparedness for emerging climate-sensitive disease risks.

Action 1.3: Enhance Community and Workplace Resilience to Extreme Heat, Extreme Weather and Poor Air Quality

Develop and implement policies, procedures, and operational guidelines to reduce health risks associated with extreme heat, wildfire smoke, poor air quality, and extreme temperatures for municipal staff, contractors, outdoor workers, and the broader community.

Occupational health and safety policies, emergency response procedures, and public health advisories provide guidance during extreme weather and air quality events.

  1. Municipal Operations
    • Review and update policies and procedures related to extreme heat and poor air quality.
    • Explore opportunities to introduce a guidance on outdoor work and service delivery during extreme heat and poor air quality events. 
    • Incorporate climate-related health risks into municipal operational and emergency planning processes.
  2. Community Protection
    • Develop public guidance and resources related to extreme weather, wildfire smoke, and poor air quality events.
    • Explore opportunities to promote home retrofit programs, cooling assistance, home energy supports, and housing resilience initiatives that reduce indoor heat exposure.
  3. Education and Capacity Building
    • Provide training and awareness opportunities for municipal staff and community partners.
    • Develop resources to support employers, schools, and community organizations in preparing for and responding to extreme heat and poor air quality events.