Accessibility of cooling centers to heat-vulnerable populations in New York State

Nayak, Seema G.; Shrestha, Srishti; Sheridan, Scott C.; Hsu, Wan‐Hsiang; Muscatiello, Neil; Pantea, Cristian; Ross, Zev; Kinney, Patrick L.; Zdeb, Michael; Hwang, Syni‐An; Lin, Shao

doi:10.1016/j.jth.2019.05.002

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Cooling centers are air-conditioned facilities or buildings, such as libraries, community centers, and senior centers, which are designed to provide people with food, drink, and medical services during hot summer days [ 16 , 17 ]. To maintain consistency across cities, we only included cooling centers listed as cooling shelters, libraries, community centers, and senior centers, and excluded other private facilities such as supermarkets and theaters.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cooling centers would be the integral part of the heat adaptation strategy and warning system [ 16 ]. Generally, cooling centers are implemented and operated by a variety of stakeholders including municipalities, fire departments, county agencies, and non-profit organizations, using existing facilities or buildings such as community centers, senior centers, and libraries [ 17 ]. Although these facilities help to reduce negative impacts on human health, the locations of cooling centers are not always optimized to maximize access [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have focused on the optimal location of cooling centers [ 9 , 15 ]. To measure the accessibility or population coverage of cooling centers, two methods have been commonly used: a catchment area method [ 18 ] and a shortest path approach [ 17 ]. The former approach measures the level of access by counting the number of people within a given catchment area defined by a certain distance or time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies have also investigated disparities in access to cooling centers faced by multiple subpopulation groups, rooted in differences in adaptive capacity among groups [ 17 , 21 , 22 ]. Voelkel et al [ 22 ] reported that Black people have better access to public cooling centers, whereas older adults ≥ 65 years have less access in Portland, OR.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Voelkel et al [ 22 ] reported that Black people have better access to public cooling centers, whereas older adults ≥ 65 years have less access in Portland, OR. Nayak et al [ 17 ] also found that more vulnerable census tracts have better accessibility compared to less vulnerable census tracts using a heat vulnerability index covering multiple demographic (age, nativity, race, ethnicity) and socioeconomic variables (employment, language, income, housing, and environmental characteristics).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Comparative Assessment of Cooling Center Preparedness across Twenty-Five U.S. Cities

Kim

Jung

Schollaert

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Cooling centers have played a significant role in reducing the risks of adverse health impacts of extreme heat exposure. However, there have been no comparative studies investigating cooling center preparedness in terms of population coverage, location efficiency, and population coverage disparities among different subpopulation groups. Using a catchment area method with a 0.8 km walking distance, we compared three aspects of cooling center preparedness across twenty-five cities in the U.S. We first calculated the percentage of the population covered by a single cooling center for each city. Then, the extracted values were separately compared to the city’s heat indexes, latitudes, and spatial patterns of cooling centers. Finally, we investigated population coverage disparities among multiple demographics (age, race/ethnicity) and socioeconomic (insurance, poverty) subpopulation groups by comparing the percentage of population coverage between selected subpopulation groups and reference subpopulation groups. Our results showed that cooler cities, higher latitude cities, and cities with dispersed cooling centers tend to be more prepared than warmer cities, lower latitude cities, and cities with clustered cooling centers across the U.S. Moreover, older people (≥65) had 9% lower population coverage than younger people (≤64). Our results suggest that the placement of future cooling centers should consider both the location of other nearby cooling centers and the spatial distribution of subpopulations to maximize population coverage and reduce access disparities among several subpopulations.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A Comparative Assessment of Cooling Center Preparedness across Twenty-Five U.S. Cities

Kim

Jung

Schollaert

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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High temperatures on mental health: Recognizing the association and the need for proactive strategies—A perspective

Rony,

Alamgir

2023

Health Science Reports

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Background and AimsThe influence of temperature on various aspects of daily life is often underestimated, and its effects on mental health are not widely recognized. Understanding and addressing the relationship between temperature and mental well‐being is crucial in the context of climate change and rising global temperatures. This perspective aimed to investigate the effects of high temperatures on mental health and identify proactive strategies to mitigate these effects.MethodsThis perspective adopted a twofold approach, including a comprehensive literature review and socioecological framework. The literature review involved extensive searches across Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus to identify relevant, peer‐reviewed articles, and reports from diverse disciplines.ResultsThe perspective emphasized the significance of recognizing heat stress and its consequences on mental well‐being. Chronic heat stress can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Vulnerable populations include, the very young, older adults, and individuals with pre‐existing mental health conditions. Socioeconomic factors can further exacerbate vulnerability, highlighting the need for tailored strategies to manage mental health challenges during high temperatures. Additionally, the article identified and discussed proactive coping strategies to minimize both the psychological and physical impacts of heat stress. Mindfulness, stress management techniques, and therapy are suggested as effective means for individuals to manage psychological distress.ConclusionImplementing preventive measures are essential steps in promoting mental wellness in high temperatures. Proactive strategies by addressing the physiological and psychological effects of heat and considering the specific needs of vulnerable populations can help individuals and communities navigate the challenges posed by rising temperatures and promote resilience and preserve their mental well‐being.

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Looking Ahead: The Utility and Application of Climate Projections for Resiliency Planning

Hayhoe

Stoner

2021

The Palgrave Handbook of Climate Resilient Societies

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Accessibility of cooling centers to heat-vulnerable populations in New York State

Cited by 20 publications

References 21 publications

A Comparative Assessment of Cooling Center Preparedness across Twenty-Five U.S. Cities

A Comparative Assessment of Cooling Center Preparedness across Twenty-Five U.S. Cities

High temperatures on mental health: Recognizing the association and the need for proactive strategies—A perspective

Looking Ahead: The Utility and Application of Climate Projections for Resiliency Planning

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