Take the Ventura County Heat Action Planning survey!
While there is no agreed upon definition of extreme heat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines extreme heat as temperatures in your region that are significantly hotter than average or what is considered normal. In Ventura County, Extreme Heat refers to days surpassing a temperature threshold of 88.8°F.
The threat of extreme heat is often overlooked, but extreme heat kills more people than any other climate-driven hazard. Furthermore, the impacts of extreme heat are not experienced equally across California. Rural/disadvantaged communities and California Native American Tribes experience disproportionate impacts. Older populations, infants and children, pregnant people, and people with chronic illness can be especially sensitive to heat exposure.
Citation - Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. (n.d.). California extreme heat symposium synopsis. Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. https://opr.ca.gov/docs/20221212-Extreme_Heat_Symposium_Synopsis.pdfSign up for VC Alert, Ventura County's Emergency Notification System.
CalHeatScore: a public health tool to help Californians stay informed, ready, and safe when temperatures rise. Use it to find up-to-date information about heat events and resources to keep yourself and your community safe.
Prepare for Extreme Heat: Heat is deadlier than any other weather hazard. Be prepared for extreme heat events and find resources to help you stay safe.
Find cooling centers in your area. Cities throughout Ventura County have different official policies regarding how they define extreme heat and when they open cooling centers. For instance, the City of Moorpark’s official cooling center protocol is when temperatures reach “105° F for two consecutive days.” The City of Simi Valley has a more general policy when opening cooling centers. They open those centers when there are “two or more consecutive days of excessive heat.”
Ventura County Public Health’s Climate and Health Explorer reviews the interaction between Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses, emergency department visits, and deaths and temperature changes within the county. The intent is to provide data and education on the health impacts of climate and temperature change in the community. Explore the Ventura County Climate and Health Dashboard
Review national heat information: Heat.gov
Many cities in the Central Coast rely on the National Weather Service (NWS) for alerts and advisories regarding extreme heat. Visit weather.gov/lox for a detailed weather forecast of your city.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provides these tips on staying cool such as drinking sufficient water, avoiding strenuous activity, and staying indoors: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/EPO/Pages/BI_Natural-Disasters_Extreme-Heat_Tips-for-Preventing-Heat-Related-Illness.aspx
In addition, the CDPH has tips for preventing heat illness in seniors: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/EPO/Pages/Extreme%20Heat%20Pages/BI_Natural-Disasters_Extreme-Heat_Seniors-and-Heat-Illness.aspx
Refer to the CDC’s guidance on how to treat these heat-related signs and symptoms: cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html
Protecting Californians from Extreme Heat: A State Action Plan to Build Community Resilience - https://resources.ca.gov/-/media/CNRA-Website/Files/Initiatives/Climate-Resilience/2022-Final-Extreme-Heat-Action-Plan.pdf