Extreme Heat Waves and COVID-19

Investigators: Olga Wilhelmi, National Center for Atmospheric Research (Principal Investigator), Peter Howe, Utah State University (Co-Principal Investigator), Mary Hayden, University of Colorado Colorado Springs (Co-Principal Investigator), Cassandra O’Lenick, National Center for Atmospheric Research (Project Scientist)

Funding: This project is funded by the NSF RAPID grant

Project Description: The purpose of this study is to look at how perceptions and responses related to two concurrent hazards (e.g., extreme heat and COVID-19) may affect the population’s health risks. As such, this project focuses on extreme heat vulnerability and capacity at a household-level, placed within the larger context of the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the experiences, risk perceptions, behaviors, and coping self-efficacy of the U.S. population.

This project aims to improve the understanding of how people cope with and adapt to multiple evolving hazards. This research examines how extreme weather conditions, COVID-19, local policies, and environmental and socio-demographic characteristics affect the public's risk perceptions, behaviors, and ability to take protective measures. 

To view the preliminary analyses of this study, click here

Contact: For more information contact Mary Hayden at mhayden@uccs.edu