Governor Newsom launches Heat Ready CA campaign
In response to California’s more frequent and severe heat waves, Governor Gavin Newsom has launched Heat Ready CA, one of the nation’s first statewide multi-ethnic awareness and education campaigns designed to keep Californians safer during excessive heat.
The campaign is detailed in a report released by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) which stated that heat is deadlier than any other weather hazard. The report provided resources to combat extreme heat.
The Heat Ready CA campaign focuses on three key areas:
- Prepare: Encourages individuals to develop personalized heat plans.
- Protect: Educates on recognizing heat-related illness symptoms and finding cool locations.
- Participate: Promotes community involvement by checking on vulnerable neighbors during heat events.
Visit the HeatReadyCA website for information on getting prepared for extreme heat events and find resources to help you stay safe and develop your own personalized heat plan.
Resources
California’s state agencies and departments have gathered additional resources and information to help you stay safe, cool, and connected.
Stay informed
- Sign up for emergency alerts.
- Follow your local news to stay informed on weather forecasts, including alerts on extreme heat events, and where to access your local cooling centers.
- Check the National Weather Service HeatRisk forecast.
- Learn about reducing power with Flex Alerts.
- Get tips and advice from the home country on avoiding the dangers of extreme heat.
Stay cool and save money
- Find a local cooling center. In Alameda, both the main branch of the Alameda Free Library at 1550 Oak Street and the West End Library at 788 Santa Clara Avenue are cooling centers.
- Check out Alameda Municipal Power’s energy assistance programs (EAP) to help qualifying households pay bills and the state’s residential weatherization program which are free programs that can help improve your home so it retains its indoor temperature or help you pay your air conditioning bills.
- Find trees to help offset the urban island-effect through your local utility.
Stay safe in extreme heat
- CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about Extreme Heat and Heat Illness.
- CDPH resources:
- The Department of Aging publishes resources tailored for older adults and adults with disabilities for Staying Safe During Extreme Heat.
- California Heat Assessment Tool.
- National Integrated Heat Health Information System’s Heat-related Illness Resource.
- Stay Safer During a Power Outage: Preparing for a power outage.
Emergency resources
- CDPH’s Emergency Preparedness Office provides information and resources to the public on how to stay safe during extreme heat.
- Listos California:
- The 99 Calor Campaign publishes resources in multiple languages about Heat Illness Prevention and provides external communications about Cal OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Standard for outdoor workers.
- If transportation is an issue, consider making a plan with friends, family, and neighbors to help you get to a cooler, safe place.
- Call 5-1-1 to find real-time traveler information.
- Use the Bay Area 511 website:
- Google “Dial-A-Ride” to find your local transit services.
- Check with local / regional transit agencies for public transit access, including free or discounted rides during heat waves.
- Transit Link: California Public Transportation Maps.
- Call 211 to find all essential community services, including transit.
