Beat the Heat: Community Perspectives Around Extreme Heat in Spokane, WA, Post-2021 Northwest Heat Dome

Abstract

Extreme heat events are the leading weather-related causes of death in the United States. Despite heat familiarity in eastern Washington, at least 19 heat-related deaths occurred in Spokane County during the 2021 “heat dome” in the Northwest. This study aimed to (1) examine the level of concern and impact of heat among heat-vulnerable groups, and (2) examine the access and barriers to utilizing home and public cooling. Spokane County resident perspectives were collected through a survey from July to November 2022 by recruiting through social media and community-based strategies. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression modeling was used to characterize perceptions of heat, access to home cooling, or interest in public cooling for vulnerable populations. Survey demographics were comparable to the study location’s US Census with 22.8% 65+ years old, 83.1% non-Hispanic White, 30.2% with an elderly at home, 29.6% with children at home, 40.9% disability or chronic illness at home, and 26.8% renter. Nearly half of respondents perceived a mild to no-threat of heat to personal well-being. Households with disability/medical illness, history of seeking medical attention due to heat, homes without AC, and renters had significantly greater concern of heat threat and were more interested in utilizing public cooling centers. Access to home AC (84.4%) was high and preference to stay at home during extreme heat events. Even among those without AC, 66.9% preferred to stay home on very hot days and 44.4% would not consider using a public cooling center. Accessibility, entertainment, infection risk, and personal safety were among a wide range of barriers to utilizing public cooling opportunities. These results highlight that effective communication and intervention strategies must be tailored to the needs and perceptions of at-risk groups. Strong preferences for individuals to stay home and barriers including accessibility, social entertainment, and safety concerns are obstacles for utilization of public cooling spaces. Enhancing community resilience to extreme heat requires multimodal approaches that engage local leadership and reflect the unique context of at-risk populations.