CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH EQUITY

Resources for Protecting Yourself and Your Community from Climate-Related Health Impacts

Learn about how you can keep yourself, your family, your pets, and your community (particularly those most at risk) safe from extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and other climate-related health impacts. Resources also include guidance for local health jurisdictions, schools, community service providers, Tribes, and other partners engaged in emergency planning, preparedness, and response.

The CDPH Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR) coordinates overall emergency planning and preparedness efforts for the California Department of Public Health, including distributing and overseeing funds to local health jurisdictions for disaster planning, and more. Learn more about CDPH's activities to prepare Californians for public health emergencies here >>

Extreme Heat

Heat Ready California - Extreme heat awareness and outreach campaign, resources in multiple languages
CDPH Extreme Heat Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions and Community Service Providers
CDPH Extreme Heat Guidance for Schools on Sports and Strenuous Activities
Protect Yourself: Extreme Heat [CDPH]
Climate Change & Extreme Heat: What You Can Do to Prepare [CDC] (PDF, 8.6MB)
Protect Yourself From the Dangers of Extreme Heat [CDC]

Wildfires & Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire Preparedness

Ready for Wildfire [CAL FIRE] - including information on wildfire preparedness, creating defensible space, home hardening, creating a personal or family wildfire action plan, when to evacuate, and more
Protect Yourself: Wildfires [CDPH]
Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation [CAL FIRE]
Fire Hazard Severity Zones [CAL FIRE]
Wildfire Risk to Communities [USDA Forest Service]

Wildfire Smoke

Also see “Air Quality” section for additional resources

Wildfire Smoke: Considerations for California’s Public Health Officials [CDPH] (PDF, 17.8MB)
Wildfires and Wildfire Smoke Resources - Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) - including information on how smoke affects childrens’ health, guidance for children and mask use, and more
Occupational Health and Worker Protection – Protecting Workers from Wildfire Smoke [CDPH]
Protecting Communities from Wildfire Smoke – CAT-PHWG Meeting Resources (PDF)
California Air Resources Board (CARB) - Wildfires and Wildfire Smoke
Smoke Ready California - Protecting Yourself from Wildfire Smoke [CARB]
How to Choose a Safe, Effective Air Cleaner for Your Home [PHI]
Guidance for Schools During Wildfire Smoke Events [CalEPA / OEHHA] (PDF)
Get Smart about Wildfire Smoke - Clear Guidelines for Schools and Wildfire Smoke [CDE] (PDF)
Fact Sheets: Preparing for Wildfire Smoke Events [PHI] - including for “Protecting Kids from Wildfire Smoke: Actions for Schools,” and “Helping Clients with Asthma Prepare for Wildfire Smoke Events: Tips for Asthma Educators”

Wildfires and Mental Health

Where Can I Get Help?

Immediate Crisis Support Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH): 24/7 multilingual crisis counseling for emotional distress related to natural to human-caused disasters. Call or text: 1-800-985-5990
988 Lifeline: 24/7 confidential support for mental health crises, thoughts of suicide, or substance use issues. Call or text: 988
Friendship Line California: 24/7 support for Californians aged 60+ to connect with someone ready to provide emotional support and a listening ear. Call: 1-888-670-1360

Additional Resources

BrightLife Kids: Free and confidential personalized mental health coaching and support for parents, caregivers, and kids ages zero to 12.
Emotional Support Services (CalHOPE): Peer counseling for stress, anxiety, depression or worry.
Soluna: Free and confidential support for 13 to 25-year-olds, including one-on-one chats with professional coaches, free-writing journals, de-stressing tools, and more.
First Aid Kit for Your Mind (Listos California): Simple steps for protecting your mental well-being and helping others do the same.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP): A climate change and youth mental health resource center.
American Psychiatric Association: Education on how climate change affects mental health and how to talk to children about eco-anxiety.

Air Quality

AirNow [US EPA and Partners]
Introduction to Community Air Protection [CARB]
Air Quality Section [CDPH]
California Department of Education - Air Quality
CARB - Indoor Air
CDPH - When and Why to Wear a Mask - the benefits of masking and tips for choosing the right mask

Power Shut-Offs

Guidance during Power Outages [CDPH]
Public Safety Power Shutoffs - Resource Guide [CalHHS]
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)

Power Outage Preparedness: How Californians Can Get Ready
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Events- check current PSPS status

Drought

Storms & Flooding

Practice Storm Season Safety [Listos California] - including information on how to prepare for floods, power outage, high winds, cold temperatures, deep snow, and mudslides, along with guidance on vehicle safety and shelters
Preparing for Winter Storms [CDPH]
Floods: Tips for Preparing for and Staying Safe During a Flood [CDPH]

Flood Recovery Guidance [CDPH]

Extreme Cold

Disaster Planning & Preparedness

CDPH - Know and Understand Disasters
Build a Family Disaster Kit [CDPH]
Preparing Communities for the Health Impacts of Climate Change (Video) [CDC]
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services [CalOES]

Listos California - Statewide network of community-based organizations, Tribal Governments, and Community Emergency Response Teams across the state to boost resiliency, provide accessible in-language information and advance a new culture of disaster preparedness
CalOES Office of Access and Functional Needs [OAFN]

California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) - Emergency Resource Guide
Emergency Preparedness & Response [California Department of Aging / CDA]
Disaster Preparedness [California Department of Rehabilitation / DOR]
Designing Inclusive, Accessible Emergency Planning for All [PHI]
FEMA Mobile App and Text Messaging
All Hazards Preparedness for Rural Communities [Iowa State University]
Inclusive and Equitable Emergency Management for LGBTQIA+ Communities [Out for Sustainability] (PDF)

Infectious Diseases

Valley Fever: What It Is, Symptoms, and How to Prevent It [CDPH]

Pets & Other Animals

COVID-19 & Climate Change

COVID-19, Climate Change, and Health Equity Guidance and Resources [CDPH]

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