Cooling Centers as a Place of Heat-Refuge: Limitations and Opportunties

In the face of anthropogenic climate change, the ability of communities to reduce thermal exposure remains a significant public health issue. Heat and cold pose risks to populations around the world.  This research outlines the spatial dimensions of heating and cooling shelters designed to protect public health.  The study builds on existing work and uses the state of Maryland (USA) to overview what venues exist to provide shelter during periods of extreme temperature.  The information also provides a resource for stakeholders including the emergency managemnt community and elected government officials. The study evaluates the spatial relationship of these cooling and heating centers with respect to thermally sensitive populations.  Most places of refuge were found in urban environments, although thermal vulnerability is not exclusively a city issue. Further research is needed to strengthen cross-agency collaboration and evaluate the effectiveness of heating and cooling centers in areas of both high and low population density.  Opportunities exist to strengthen the local and state networks and improve public health outcomes.  More research is needed to explore how emergy management plans go beyond hazard identification and strengthen vulnerable communities’ ability to mitigate heat risk.  Lessons learned globally may also be used to mitigate adverse health outcomes.