Wisconsin Climate and Health Program

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Lead Organization: Wisconsin Division of Public Health

Program Name: Wisconsin Climate and Health Program

Summary:
The Wisconsin Climate and Health Program addresses health effects related to extreme heat, extreme cold, flooding, and vector-borne diseases. The program is advised by a health equity advisory team so that implementation and evaluation efforts can be focused on those most at-risk. One of the adaptation activities has been a prospective extreme heat-related community assessment of public health emergency response (CASPER) in Milwaukee, which a previous heat vulnerability index project identified as extremely vulnerable during an extreme heat event. This tool is being evaluated for use during extreme weather events. The data being collected will be used to inform future extreme heat plans in Milwaukee. The program has also worked on a flood vulnerability and a risk map. An interactive ArgGIS online web platform was created to assess vulnerability to and risk for flooding based on a variety of variables including a social vulnerability index, flood plains, and critical health care infrastructure. Additionally, a flood resilience scorecard is being produced through the program.  This scorecard is a comprehensive checklist that assesses social, institutional, and environmental variables so that local municipalities can better assess their vulnerabilities to flooding events. It also allows local municipalities to better plan for future flooding events by using the tool’s recommendations based on their individual scores.

Climate-Ready State funded since 2012

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/climate/index.htmexternal icon

Contact information: dhsclimate@dhs.wisconsin.gov

Page last reviewed: September 20, 2019
Content source: National Center for Environmental Health