Heat and Health
Cooling Centers
When the weather gets hot, “Cooling Centers” may be opened in Alameda County. These are facilities such as a senior centers, community centers or libraries that have air conditioning, where the public may go to cool down during a heat wave. Some may also provide other resources for people who are experiencing homelessness or are unsheltered.
When there is a need for Cooling Centers to open and facilities have been identified that can provide this service, a list will be posted here.
The changing climate means Alameda County residents can expect more extreme heat waves. Extreme heat puts a toll on health. Extreme heat waves can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration. Warmer temperatures create more pollen in the air, stronger airborne allergens, and more allergy symptoms. Certain populations such as the elderly, children, people with disabilities and those living alone are at a higher risk during heat events. Learn more about Heat and Health and what the Alameda County Public Health Department is doing in Ashland and Cherryland at https://www.coolingourcommunities.com/heat
Stay hydrated and stay indoors in a cooler environment, if you can! The Heat and Health flyer below has symptoms of heat illness to look out for and tips for staying cool and reducing the impacts of hot weather. It also has more detailed information about the urban conditions that can exacerbate heat events, the effects of extreme heat days.
Heat and Health Preparedness Pocket Guide
Download the Heat and Health Preparedness Pocket Guide for guidance and resources and to create a Family Emergency Plan. Click below for printable PDFs in 6 different languages. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Farsi
Heat and Health flyer: English | Spanish
Health Alerts
Health Alerts and Advisories are put out by the Alameda County Health Officer and the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services during extreme heat events and emergencies and sent through AC Alert, Alameda County’s emergency alerts system. The public can sign up to receive these alerts via email, text and social media.
Additional Resources:
- A 2018 mapping analysis of climate change vulnerability in Alameda County, conducted by the Alameda County Public Health Department, Community Assessment, Planning and Evaluation Unit (CAPE). The analysis looks closely at extreme heat vulnerability by City/ place. The interactive Alameda County Heat Vulnerability Map created in 2019 also illustrates social and environmental factors that contribute to community heat vulnerability in Alameda County.
- Cooling Our Communities is a program that promotes resiliency to the impacts of heat and climate change and is a partnership between the Alameda County Planning Department, Public Health Department, and Sustainability Office and RCD Housing. The program aims to engage residents about the public health risks of rising temperatures and ways to best adapt to the changing climate, develop leaders to do outreach and provides free trees (limited number) to residents of Ashland and Cherryland to address urban heat island.
- Up-to-date heat-related weather information is available from the National Weather Service.
- 2-1-1 is a free, non-emergency, confidential, 3-digit phone number and service that provides easy access to housing information and critical health and human services. 2-1-1 operates 24/7 with multi-lingual capabilities.
Visit 211alamedacounty.org to use their resource finder for more information about health and human service providers in Alameda County.
- AC Alert is the primary way to receive up-to-date notifications about events and emergencies that may affect your home, workplace, and other places within Alameda County. Many cities use AC Alert to emergency information and alerts - such as evacuation and disaster instructions - by voice, text and email, as well as well as sending TTY/TDD messages, messaging Nixle subscribers, posting to social media pages, and sending FEMA Wireless Alerts (WEA).
Go to the AC Alert signup page to sign up or edit your account information, for emergency notifications today!
- Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events are precautionary measures conducted by PG&E during extreme fire danger conditions to help reduce the risk of wildfire. PG&E expects to be able to restore power within 24 to 48 hours after extreme weather has passed, however, outages could last longer depending on weather conditions or if repairs are needed. Their goal, dependent on forecasted weather and other factors, is to send customer alerts at 48 hours, again at 24 hours and again just prior to shutting off power, when possible.
Update your contact information for advanced notification of a Public Safety Power Shutoff event.
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Emergency Preparedness Office has tips on preparing for a heat wave and avoiding the greatest health dangers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a Spanish-translation of CDC's Climate Change and Extreme Heat infographic
Public Safety Power Shutoff Resources
- pge.com/pspsupdates – For real-time PSPS updates
- prepareforpwerdown.com – Learn more about how to prepare for a Public Safety Power Shutoff
- PSPS Frequently Asked Questions
- PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program – Offers lower energy bills for certain medical conditions or life-support equipment
Wildfire Safety Resources
- acphd.org/wildfire-smoke - Alameda County Wildfire Smoke Resources
- pge.com/wildfiresafety – Tips to help you prepare for wildfire season
- readyforwildfire.org – CAL FIRE’s wildfire preparedness website
- cpuc.ca.gov/wildfiresinfo – Information on the CPUC’s wildfire safety efforts
Additional Preparedness Resources
- ready.gov - Disaster preparedness information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- caloes.ca.gov – California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services website
- firesafecouncil.org – California Fire Safe Council website
- noaa.gov – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website