Building Resilience to Extreme Weather Events in Phoenix: Considering Contaminated Sites and Disadvantaged Communities
Communities across the world are experiencing a myriad of impacts from intensifying extreme heat, flood, drought, and wildfire events due to climate change. Further impacts can be experienced due to nearby contaminated sites and waste management facilities that are either actively or have a history of managing or storing hazardous substances, wastes, or potential contaminated material. Such sites and waste management facilities may release contaminants into the surrounding environment because of extreme climate events, thereby impacting nearby communities. These areas are often considered disadvantaged because they suffer from a combination of economic, health, social and environmental burdens, which make them more likely to experience disproportionately higher impacts. Because resources are often scarce for these communities, more information will assist with prioritizing and targeting resources toward areas that may be impacted the most. This study applies indicators using a community vulnerability framework for Maricopa County in Arizona (USA), which includes the city of Phoenix, to inform plans for preparedness, response, and recovery from the effects of extreme heat on contaminated sites and nearby populations. By mapping indicators related to extreme heat, contaminated sites, contaminant transport via wind, and characteristics of the potentially exposed population, this study helped decision-makers in Phoenix and Maricopa County build their communities’ capacity to address potential future risks from climate extremes. Phoenix is using the results in their ongoing climate planning activities and aims to apply the indicators in other ways in the future. The methods and indicators employed in this demonstration can be applied elsewhere to help other communities prepare for the effects of extreme climate events.