Climate Change and Your Health

Air Pollution

Many people are facing a double whammy of air quality threats that will worsen with climate change:

• 12 counties have ragweed and 5 counties have unhealthy smog levels; Mobile County suffers from both.3
• Asthma sickens an estimated 105,600 kids and 275,100 adults.4

Protect your family from air pollution:

• Check news reports on the radio, TV, or online for pollen reports or daily air quality conditions. Or visit EPA's Air Now for air quality info and avoid outdoor activity on bad air days particularly for people with asthma or other respiratory diseases.
• After spending time outdoors, wash off pollen that may have collected on your face, skin, or hair.

Find out more about the effects of air pollution

Extreme Heat

• Nearly 178,000 people live in the 4 counties where record average summertime temperatures set records in 2010.5
• Summer temperatures could rise as much as 3-7°F (2-4°C) with the July heat index rising 10-25°F (6-14°C).6
• Cities like Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile are vulnerable to heat waves.7

Protect your family from extreme heat:

• Limit exertion during heat waves and high temperature days, drink plenty of water and take cool showers or baths, and stay inside or in the shade.
• Check on elderly or at-risk friends or neighbors regularly -- or ask someone to look in on you if you feel vulnerable to heat.

Find out more about the effects of extreme heat

Infectious Diseases

• 9 cases of Dengue Fever were reported between 1995-2005, and 40 counties have mosquitoes that can transmit the virus (as of 2005).8
• 167 cases of West Nile virus were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 1999-2010.9
• 219 cases of Lyme disease were reported to CDC between 1990-2008.10

Protect your family from infectious diseases:

• When planning international travel, check with the CDC's website for information on recent disease outbreaks and take appropriate precautions.
• During mosquito season at home, apply insect repellent with 20-30 percent DEET in the mornings and early evenings.

Find out more about the effects of infectious diseases

Drought

• About 72% of the state's counties now face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as the result of climate change.11
• Drought has increased 12-14% in the region since 1970.12

Protect your family from droughts:

• Visit EPA's WaterSense for tips on conserving water, such as replacing leaky pipes.
• The USDA and Cooperative Extension Service have resources to help farmers conserve water.

Find out more about the effects of drought

Flooding

• Sea level rise and coastal flooding jeopardizes the infrastructure of coastal cities like Mobile.13
• Major disasters have been declared in the state nearly 20 times since 2000, due to flooding, severe storms, or hurricanes that cost millions of dollars in damages.14
• Changing rainfall washes nutrients into waterways and, along with rising temperatures, can increase risks of toxic algal blooms in the Gulf; these can threaten the safety of seafood consumption and ocean use for beachgoers.15

Protect your family from floods and related illnesses:

• Familiarize yourself with your region's vulnerability to flooding and its local emergency evacuation plans.
• Prepare your own plan -- including where your family will stay in case of flooding and what you'll do if a relative is sickened by contaminated water.

Find out more about the effects of flooding

Extreme Weather

Alabama experienced in 2011:

• Record-breaking heat in 14 counties and a total of 23 broken heat records
• Record-breaking rainfall in 15 counties and a total of 20 broken rainfall records
• Record-breaking snow in 2 counties and a total of 3 broken snowfall records

Protect your family from extreme weather:

• Stay informed -- subscribe to local emergency alerts and watch for updates. Make sure to have a battery-powered radio or other device in the event you lose power.
• Stay connected -- check on relatives, friends and neighbors.
• Plan ahead -- have an evacuation plan and emergency supplies on hand. Click here for information on how to be aware and be prepared for a natural disaster. Also see the Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) lists for what you need.

Find out more about the effects of extreme weather