Eagle County is a diverse community of over 55,000 full-time residents and thousands of visitors annually. It is also a growing community, with a projected 2040 population of 93,000 people. Throughout Eagle County the values of health, education, and recreation remain strong and contribute to a vibrant community culture. Across the County, income levels and access to vital resources vary significantly; in a community where the average household income is above $90,000 annually, over nine percent of the population lives below the poverty line [1].
Access to affordable housing and attainable health care services are concerns for many Eagle County residents, and the cost of living and availability of affordable housing in Eagle County presents a major challenge to many community members [2]. The majority of jobs in Eagle County are service-related, most of which are linked to the tourism industry, which could be significantly impacted by climate change. Financial stresses are a leading cause of mental health issues and depression in many communities and may be a driver behind some mental and physical health problems in Eagle County, where suicide is the fourth leading cause of death. The 2017 Community Health Improvement Plan for Eagle County focuses on improving healthy living choices in the community, and, from a mental health perspective, the plan focuses on increasing access to services and promoting exercise [3].
Compounding the challenges of providing access to quality physical and mental health services and an affordable high quality of life within the community are the challenges of ensuring that community members remain safe in the face of climate-related dangers, including increased wildfire risk, increasing temperatures, and decreasing snowpack. While all residents and visitors of Eagle County are affected by these types of events, those living in frontline communities, in particular residents of mobile home parks, immigrant communities, and the elderly, are the most susceptible to the effects of climate change and extreme weather events. Recent studies show that in the coming years, Eagle County is likely to experience higher daytime temperatures that will impact young children, the elderly, people who work outside, and recreation enthusiasts. Higher temperatures will likely contribute to an uptick in the instances of vector-borne illnesses, including the West Nile Virus, Hantavirus, and the plague. Increases in the frequency or extent of wildfires will have a detrimental impact on air quality and will have particularly negative impacts on first responders, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems [4].
The Health and Wellness Climate Challenge
Increasing wildfire risk
As climate change exacerbates the size, intensity, and duration of wildfires, there is the possibility of catastrophic impacts to the health of Eagle County’s residents and visitors. Poor air quality and a lack of safe and sanitary drinking water due to wildfire can cause serious health concerns in the community and can disproportionately impact particularly vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions. As wildfires can rapidly change the face of a landscape by burning down homes and entire neighborhoods, access to safe evacuation routes and resources to support individuals and families during and after an evacuation is crucial.
Rising temperatures
Temperatures in Eagle County are increasing due to climate change. This can present a serious health concern for many residents, including those that work or recreate regularly outside, very young children, the elderly, and those without access to a place where they can cool off and, if needed, rehydrate. Rising temperatures have the additional impact of facilitating a more productive habitat for the spread of disease and vector-borne illnesses, which can negatively effect individual and community health.
Decreasing Snowpack
As winter tourism is a major driver of the economy in Eagle County, and a significant share of jobs in the community are related to this industry, long-term reductions in snowpack may decrease the availability of jobs in the community. This can have cascading effects on the affordability of health care, housing availability, and mental health.
Health and Wellness Resilience Strategies
Build community equity, trust, and civic engagement.
RESILIENCE VALUE: Getting residents involved in all aspects of life in the County will not only help improve community resilience, it will enhance our commitment to health, wellness, and prosperity for the entire community.
FEATURED ACTION STATEMENTS:
Incentivize community involvement and civic engagement on resilience.
Plan, fund, and implement community events that improve social infrastructure and enhance community cohesion.
Invest in community cohesion to create more resilient communities before disaster occurs.
POTENTIAL PARTNERS: Citizens of the County (We the People), elected officials, homeowner associations, neighborhood groups, Chamber of Commerce, large employers, non-governmental organizations, education groups, MIRA, Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement, media (local and social).
Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all community residents, visitors, and workers during and after a disaster.
RESILIENCE VALUE: Being prepared for any disaster that comes our way is key to community resilience and ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of all of our community members.
FEATURED ACTION STATEMENTS:
Ensure community and individual assets are insured against catastrophic wildfire.
Coordinate post-fire emergency protection measures (with regards to landslides, flooding, and erosion) with relevant agencies.
Host neighborhood events specific to emergency response, education, and preparedness.
POTENTIAL PARTNERS: Eagle County Public Health and the Environment, Eagle County Emergency Management, first responders, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), public information officers, local businesses, recreation districts, community leaders and organizations, homeowner associations, neighbors/citizens/neighborhoods, planners, schools, education organizations, faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, MIRA, Colorado Department of Transportation, Chamber of Commerce, Neighborhood Navigators.
Support frontline communities in preparing for and recovering from extreme weather events.
RESILIENCE VALUE: Frontline community members are individuals that are frequently impacted first and worst by climate change and extreme weather events. The resilience of Eagle County is dependent on our ability to ensure that all community members are prepared for and able to recover from extreme weather events.
FEATURED ACTION STATEMENTS:
Coordinate health related emergency management and evacuation services with frontline community organizations, community members, and resources.
Develop formalized agreements (MOU's) with hospitals and clinics to be better prepared for catastrophic wildfire. Ensure these MOU’s address protocols, preparedness, and bed availability.
Build and strengthen partnerships with frontline community organizations and community members.
POTENTIAL PARTNERS: Eagle County Public Health and the Environment, Eagle County Emergency Management, first responders, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), public information officers, local businesses, recreation districts, community leaders and organizations, homeowner associations, neighbors/citizens/neighborhoods, planners, schools, education organizations, faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, MIRA, Colorado Department of Transportation, Chamber of Commerce, Neighborhood Navigators.
Enhance community wellness by investing in social infrastructure and increasing community connectivity in neighborhoods.
RESILIENCE VALUE: A connected community is a resilient community. Investing in projects and programs that help neighbors know each other will both enhance their involvement in County planning and make them better able to support each other during and immediately following wildfires and other extreme weather events.
FEATURED ACTION STATEMENTS:
Support recreational opportunities that are accessible to all, including those activities that may be lost due to climate change.
Create community hubs for people of all ages, races, and incomes to play, learn, and connect.
Identify opportunities to increase social connectivity in areas in the County that have no internet or cell service.
POTENTIAL PARTNERS: Recreation districts, community leaders and organizations, homeowner associations, neighbors/citizens/neighborhoods, local businesses, planners, non-profits, schools, ECO trails, pre-schools, education organizations, faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, MIRA, Colorado Department of Transportation, Chamber of Commerce, Neighborhood Navigators.
Increase public awareness of air quality impacts, monitoring, and response.
RESILIENCE VALUE: Knowing what to do during periods of lower air quality (primarily from wildfires) will reduce the impacts of those events (particularly on frontline community members). Investing in monitoring air quality in the region will help build awareness of the issues and provide support for actions that limit the effects of poor air quality.
FEATURED ACTION STATEMENTS:
Create and deploy an education campaign to help people understand what to do when wildfires reduce local air quality (use neighborhoods as units of change).
Develop materials that accurately portray Eagle County’s air quality.
Develop an air quality monitoring and public reporting system.
POTENTIAL PARTNERS: Eagle County Public Health and the Environment, Eagle County Emergency Management, EnergySmart, Walking Mountain Science Center, Colorado Affordable Residential Energy (CARE), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), public information officers, local businesses, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management.
