“We aim to find new ways to protect people most at risk from the climate crisis and advance health equity.”
Dr. Aaron Bernstein, interim director of Harvard Chan C-CHANGE
The following resources can be downloaded for your use by clicking on Heat, Wildfires or Hurricanes & Flooding and then selecting each document (information or checklist) that you wish to download. Please help us learn more in this project by first filling in the simple form below with the name of your clinic/health center and its location. If you wish, you can also share your name and email so we can alert you to new resources and training opportunities. Then download as many of the PDFs that you wish. The documents are organized for Health Care Providers, Patients and Administrators.
Dr. Aaron Bernstein, interim director of Harvard Chan C-CHANGE
The project launched with a nationwide survey as well as focus groups with nine pilot clinics in four states: California, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Texas. All of the focus group clinics have experienced recurring emergencies due to the climate crisis. Participating clinics provided information on knowledge gaps, real-world challenges, and opportunities for interventions for their patient populations. They also reviewed the toolkit content and provided valuable feedback that helps us ensure the utility of these resources.
From the data collected from the nationwide survey, we learned that:
The team is using this information to create tailored resources for health care providers, staff, and patients on extreme heat, wildfires, and hurricanes & flooding and working with clinics to put these materials into practice.
“This project is about resilience – not just protecting buildings but protecting people and communities. It is the first of its kind to focus on developing resources for frontline clinics – clinics that serve people disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis,” said Kristin Stevens, Director, Climate and Disaster Resilience
The project will expand across the U.S. to ensure that more clinics providing free or low-cost health care to uninsured or underinsured patients – such as primary, behavioral, emergency, maternity, and specialty care – are better equipped to manage care and protect patients from climate risks.
Biogen Chief Medical Officer Maha Radhakrishnan, M.D.
The Free Clinic of Simi Valley in Southern California provides critical medical care to low-income families. Its patients live with the intensifying effects of climate change, including heat and drought.
Lestonnac Free Clinic, based in Orange County, California, has 13 clinic sites throughout Southern California. In 2020, due to the numerous wildfires, they saw a significant increase in patients coming into the clinic for upper respiratory issues and breathing problems due to the fires.
Cambridge Health Alliance works in two safety net community hospitals and multiple primary care centers that serve several diverse communities north of Boston. Its patients are at high risk of heat-related illnesses due to urban heat-island effects, and their neighborhoods are at high risk of flooding due to rising sea levels and worsening storms.
The Community Care Clinic of Dare in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. In addition to the frequent and intensifying hurricanes that have been occurring, the clinic and patients face challenges from ongoing flooding caused by rising sea levels and increasing temperatures that have a disproportionate effect on their patients who often work outdoors.
Kintegra Health, a community health center in North Carolina with over 30 sites. The sites and patients face significant issues from frequent flooding washing out roads and access to healthcare, as well as deteriorating infrastructure, particularly in the rural areas.
The North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NCAFCC) supports 70 free and charitable clinics and pharmacies in the state by coordinating disaster response activities and supporting clinics as they provide healthcare for medically underserved North Carolinians. NCAFCC is feeling the effects of climate change and staff are called on to assist member clinics as climate change has acute and long-term effects on patient care and clinic operations.
Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program (MEHOP) provides critical health and behavioral health services for Matagorda County on the east coast of Texas. The facility was evacuated during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and had many patients and staff members affected by the recent deep freeze. MEHOP is in a rural, underserved area with significant and growing challenges around access to healthcare, degrading infrastructure, and insufficient funds to rebuild after disasters.
San José Clinic, a charity clinic in Houston, Texas, serves patients directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey and the recent winter storm and related power outages.
Ubi Caritas, a free clinic in Beaumont, Texas, serves communities impacted by multiple hurricanes.