2018 Reports

Windsor Heat Alert and Response Plan: Reaching Vulnerable Populations

Dickinson, Thea

Urban areas with dense populations and impervious surfaces, like Windsor-Essex, experience amplified heat through the urban heat island effect, which can increase temperatures by up to 12°C above surrounding rural areas. In response to rising heat risks and climate change projections, the City of Windsor and County of Essex implemented a three-tier Heat Alert and Response Plan involving public health units, NGOs, volunteers, and community partners to identify vulnerable populations, coordinate emergency services, and provide early warnings during extreme heat events. Measures include monitoring weather forecasts, public awareness campaigns, door-to-door checks, and access to cooling centers, aiming to reduce heat-related illness and fatalities. This proactive, multi-stakeholder approach strengthens public health resilience and provides a model for adaptation planning to protect communities from increasing extreme heat under a warming climate.