Probably the most important thing we can do to better RESPOND to natural disasters is to PREPARE for natural disasters!

Many of our communities have already been impacted by extreme heat, and the reality is that extreme heat events are going to become more common as time goes on.

Heat can have devastating impacts across all ages. But there are things we can do to protect ourselves, our family, our friends, and the communities around us.

How do we reduce heat impacts? In this video climate change strategist Vivek Shandas, PhD, and others share why and how we can lower neighborhood temperatures with more trees and other shade structures, more surfaces that cool, like green roofs, and depaving parking lots and other places.

How do we survive heat waves and other emergencies? Investing in social capital could be the answer. The Oxford English Dictionary defines social capital as "the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively." It is a term used for how we connect with neighbors before, during and after crises, and many of our churches are ideally situated to the lead in this effort in our own communities.

Take Action

Make a plan. Find resources here.

Samantha Montano, PhD, professor of emergency management and disaster science, wrote in Disasterology “The most important thing you can do to prepare for a disaster is to take a basket of muffins to your neighbor.” Translation: cultivate neighborhood relationships before a crisis because “in a disaster, you are more likely to be rescued by somebody you know, whether that's family or friends…as compared to a formal search and rescue team.” Our neighbors (and our churches!) ARE the safety net.