*
New York State Department of Health
Extreme Weather Planning & Response Guide
Bryon Backenson
New York State Department of Health
* Climate change refers to any
significant change in the
measures of climate lasting for
an extended period of time. In
other words, climate change
includes major changes in
temperature, precipitation, or
wind patterns, among other
effects, that occur over several
decades or longer.
*
*
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New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Conducted a research study and provided a
report analyzing Climate Change
Adaptation in NYS

The group developed projections for NYS
based on 16 global climate models and 3
emission scenarios
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These findings were then applied to 8
sectors: Water Resources, Coastal Zones,
Ecosystems, Agriculture, Energy,
Transportation, Telecommunications, and
Public Health
*
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Temperatures will facilitate extreme weather events on
their own (extreme cold, extreme hot)
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Increased stagnant air events - expanded durations of ozone
Increased rates of mortality
Extreme precipitation - increased flooding potentials
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Increased potential for extreme events (e.g. hurricanes)
Diminished water and food supply quality
Interruption of service delivery - healthcare, etc.
Increased respiratory illness related to flooding conditions
(e.g. Mold)
Air Pollution/Aeroallergens

Impacts to air quality
*

In 2012 the Office of Health Emergency Preparedness pulled
together an internal workgroup of Subject Matter Experts:

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Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Public Information
Emergency planning & response
Key considerations for the Extreme Weather Plan

What plans currently exist? (e.g. Coastal Storm Plan, All Hazards
Plan)
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How would this plan fit into the existing planning universe?
How do we define response actions for Extreme Weather?
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
NYSDOH currently maintains an All Hazards based Health
Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, which includes
the Department’s Incident Management System Plan

IMS is the Department’s adaptation of Incident Command and
establishes the methods, roles and responsibilities for the
department in ALL emergencies

The Extreme Weather Planning & Response Guide sits as an
Appendix in the IMS Annex

The Plan:

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Defines extreme weather events in New York
Identifies the Department’s role in a defined weather event
Outlines the Department’s actions

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This also included identifying
weather conditions specific to
New York State -

Lake Effect Snow Watches &
Warnings
The work group first defined
Extreme Weather Events using
National Weather Service and
NOAA

Primary Response actions
were defined, including
Departmental resources
often used in an emergency

The group defined by EVENT
TYPE potential consequences
and recovery concerns as well
as Potential Secondary Events

e.g. Hurricane  High Winds
and Flooding  Power outages
*

The NYSDOH Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
Plan is formally updated every 4 years, however, portions are
updated as needed

Hurricane Sandy 2012
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Primary plans used for response were the NYC Coastal Storm
Plan and the NYS Response and Recovery Annexes

While the Extreme Weather Planning & Response Guide was
not formally implemented, the public messaging included in the
plan is a primary response role

More on Sandy tomorrow…
The plan has been used in 3 additional EOC activations for
severe winter weather

e.g. Winter Storm NEMO, January 2013
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Department preparedness/awarness and “culture change”

Do other areas of DOH know about impacts of climate change?

Sometimes get lost in the shuffle, with much emphasis on
disasters, severe weather events, etc.

Changes are perhaps slow to be noticed, but will persist for years
and tax the (already shrinking) public health infrastructure

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Changing ranges of zoonotic and arthropod-borne diseases due to
impacts of climate on their vectors, hosts, and reservoirs

Impacts on foodborne and waterborne diseases due to changes in
agriculture, food handling, use of HVAC equipment, etc.
Need to plan for these as well
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May start as disaster or emergency
Many coupled with increases in technology, leading to increased
burden
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Thanks to all those who contributed to these slides and this
work: Sarah-Anne Roberts, Millie Eidson, Kathleen Clancy, Ed
Fitzgerald, Shao Lin, Hwa-Gan Chang
NYS Office of Heath Emergency Preparedness
518.474.2893