Abstract
Weather extremes are increasing with climate change and associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Promotion of social connections is an emerging area of research and practice for risk reduction during weather extremes. This study examines the practice of checking on neighbors during extreme summer heat and extreme winter weather. Objectives are to (1) describe the extent of neighbor checking during these extremes, and (2) examine factors associated with neighbor checking. We analyze survey data (n = 442) from a primarily low- and moderate- income study sample in a Southeastern U.S. city, using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. About 17.6% of participants checked on neighbors during extreme summer heat, and 25.2% did so during extreme winter weather. Being middle or older aged and having more adverse physical health impacts were positively associated with neighbor checking, for both extremes. For winter only, having less education was positively associated with neighbor checking. Community-based partnerships for reducing risk during weather extremes may consider people who are older or have experienced their own adverse health impacts as initial target groups for promoting neighbor checking. Future research should also examine the motivations for, details about, and impacts of neighbor checking in greater depth.
Highlights
IntroductionA pressing question for public health is how to keep people safe during these particular weather extremes
In order to address this important knowledge gap, the present study aims to (1) describe the extent of neighbor checking during extreme summer heat and extreme winter weather, among a primarily low- and moderate- income population, and (2) examine what factors are associated with the self-reported behavior of neighbor checking
More than 80% of participants expressed concern about climate change, with general climate change concerns reported by 84% of participants, area-specific (i.e., Knoxville) concerns reported by 83%, and household concerns reported by 81% (Table 1)
Summary
A pressing question for public health is how to keep people safe during these particular weather extremes. An important strategy is public provision of forecasts and alerts for weather extreme events by the National Weather Service (NWS), which aims to inform and influence individual, household, and organizational safety decisions.[16] Challenges to the effectiveness of NWS messaging include reaching people through new channels such as social media[16,17]; making messages concise, targeted, and tailored to the event and audience[17,18]; integrating social science understanding of human behavior into hazard communications[19]; and recognizing that public health impacts may occur at lower thresholds than those set for NWS alerts.[20]
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