Building Resilience Against Climate Effects

Although the impacts of severe weather cannot always be predicted and prevented, meaningful steps can be taken today to identify and protect those most at risk in Southwest New Hampshire. In 2017, the Greater Monadnock Public Health Network, with help from Southwest Region Planning Commission, Antioch University and the NH Department of Health and Human Services conducted an analysis of regional demographics and vulnerable population groups, identified and researched a variety of climate hazards and health topics. The project included a pilot intervention aimed at addressing health impacts associated with extreme precipitation events and severe weather. This project was documented in the region’s Climate and Health Adaptation Plan (CHAP).

In 2018, the Greater Monadnock Public Health Network led a follow-up initiative to develop a more detailed intervention building on the knowledge gained through the Climate and Health Adaptation Plan (CHAP) project. Guided by a Plan of Action, the Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) project will continue the work initiated by the CHAP project through June of 2021.

Climate and Health Adaptation Plan

The Climate and Health Adaptation Plan for the Monadnock Region is a response to increased concerns about how our changing weather and climate may negatively impact our public health system and place additional burdens on populations already vulnerable to health problems. Natural hazards given the most attention have included hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and severe winter weather-for good reason. Extreme rainfall events in 2005 (Alstead) and 2006 (Keene and surrounding communities) brought severe flooding resulting in costly road washouts, property damage and loss of life. Similarly, the Ice Storm of 2008 took down power lines, disrupted economic activity and left many without heat, hot water, electricity, and the ability to communicate with others for days. Today, new hazards are understood to threaten human health into the future.

To better understand these concerns, the Greater Monadnock Public Health Network, with help from Southwest Region Planning Commission, Antioch University and the NH Division of Public Health Services conducted an analysis of regional demographics and vulnerable population groups, identified and researched a variety of climate hazards and health topics, and identified short term interventions to address a priority health outcome. Those resulting from changes to climate are the subject of this plan. Although the impacts of severe weather cannot always be predicted and prevented, meaningful steps can be taken today to identify and protect those populations most at risk.


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