SUPPORTING HOUSEHOLD HEALTH ADAPTATION

Project Description: In the western US, when extreme heat and wildfire smoke occur simultaneously (i.e., as compound events), many households face serious challenges for mitigating vulnerability given lack of or financial inability to operate a central air-conditioning (AC) system, a primary tool for limiting exposure. This is the case for roughly 22% of households in Nevada. During compound events, unless these households evacuate, they must choose between minimizing heat exposure but increasing air pollution exposure (e.g., by opening windows/doors or operating evaporative coolers) or minimizing air pollution exposure but allowing heat to accumulate (i.e., indoor heat waves). Given the increasing frequency and intensity of both extreme heat and wildfire smoke events in the western US, there is a critical need to support health adaptation in vulnerable households.