Groton looks at how to prepare for extreme heat
Jul. 16—GROTON — When people living in New England think of extreme temperatures, they typically may worry about the cold.
They may not be thinking about heat as a major threat, but not being prepared to respond to heat makes the region more vulnerable, said Clare McCarthy, a sustainability fellow with the Town of Groton.
McCarthy, who is working on a project to help the town prepare for extreme heat, said she hopes to make residents more aware of the threat of severe heat and the steps they can take to protect themselves. She is working on Groton's project as a summer fellow through the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute.
At a public meeting Tuesday on planning for extreme heat as the climate changes, McCarthy will present her initial research on heat issues and how people can prepare. Residents also can share their ideas about actions the community should take.
Impacts of heat
New London County experienced three days over 90 degrees per year from 1961 to 1990, but it is projected to climb to up to 98 days over 90 degrees each year by 2100, according to The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit Climate Explorer.
Heat can have wide-ranging impacts, McCarthy explained.
Heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States, said McCarthy, who recently graduated from Emory University's College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the two most severe heat-related illnesses, she said.
Overall, heat puts significant strain on the heart and respiratory system so people with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are especially at risk, she said.
In addition to physical impacts, there also are mental health impacts associated with heat, McCarthy said.
Heat can disrupt infrastructure, she said, citing instances of roads breaking down and train tracks warping during heat waves in other parts of the country. It also can strain the power grid, as more people use air conditioning. Air pollution further can be exacerbated during extreme heat.
Heat vulnerability assessment
McCarthy is assessing Groton's vulnerability to heat and which parts of the community might be most vulnerable.
For instance, the City of Groton has more paved surfaces, which absorb a lot of heat, than other parts of the community ― demonstrating the "urban heat island effect," she said.
Groton is a diverse community with residents who are racial minorities, lower income, or speak a language other than English and may be more vulnerable to heat because they might not receive information through traditional communication channels when heat advisories are issued or might not be able to afford air conditioning, she said.
Groton also has a fairly large population of renters, who may not have control over air conditioning, she said.
Looking for solutions
McCarthy researched how other communities are responding to heat, including opening cooling centers or issuing warnings in advance of a heat wave so people can prepare.
McCarthy and Megan Granato, sustainability and resilience manager for the town, are going out into the community to hear residents' experiences and recommendations.
Granato said it's important to think about the ways the town can put infrastructure in place, such as cooling shelters, to help handle the risk from extreme heat.
It's also important to look at ways to reduce the risk, Granato said. The town's Parks and Recreation Department is doing a street tree inventory, which will enable the town to look at opportunities to plant more trees.
Some cities are taking steps, such as painting roofs in light colors to reflect the sun, Granato said.
While people often use the Groton Public Library and Thrive 55+ Active Living Center as de-facto cooling centers, McCarthy said she is thinking of additional spaces for cooling centers and how to connect with a more diverse group of people through social media.
McCarthy also is assembling fact sheets and booklets on resources.
McCarthy said she wants people to realize that there are a lot of simple ways they can protect themselves and families during extreme heat days, such as drinking water or staying out of the heat during peak times.
Based on the research and comments from the community, McCarthy will write a report with recommendations for Groton.
McCarthy's research will feed into an overall climate action plan that the town will develop, Granato said. The town recently received a $200,000 state grant to help fund the plan.
The meeting, sponsored by the town's Office of Planning and Development Services, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the community room of the Thrive 55+ Active Living Center, according to a flyer. People can RSVP at tinyurl.com/groton-heat, though it is not required.