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Anoka County2025 Hazard Mitigation Planz.umn.edu/AnokaHMP Heat, air pollution (including wildfire smoke and allergens like pollen), extreme precipitation, floods, droughts, and ecosystem changes are all “climate hazards” that impact our health. Some of these climate hazards have a direct effect, like a heat-related illness from a heatwave, while some have an indirect impact, like exacerbation of asthma from mold growth in a flooded basement. Heat Minnesotans will experience a wide range of impacts from the increased frequency and severity of extreme heat events. Higher heat, increased humidity, and longer and more frequent extreme heat events can lead to direct health impacts of dehydration and heatstroke. Untreated heat stroke can lead to death. Heat-related illness directly accounted for 75 deaths in Minnesota from 2000–2022. Heat can also worsen existing health conditions, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The people most at risk include those who are more exposed and those who may be more susceptible due to physiological reasons. People more likely to be exposed to heat include outdoor workers in agriculture and construction, student athletes, people who live in cities (due to the heat island effect), people without air conditioning, and unhoused persons. People at higher risk because of physiological reasons include those with underlying medical conditions, pregnant people, older adults, infants, and young children. Just as one example of the devastating effects of heat, in the summer of 2011, Minnesota had six days when the heat index was 105 degrees F or higher—and that same summer there were 1,302 emergency department visits and 3 deaths due to heat. What makes these numbers tragic is that heat- related illnesses are preventable. Air Pollution In general, we breathe clean air in Minnesota, according to federal standards. But on some days and in some locations, air is unhealthy due to ozone or fine particulate matter. Greenhouse gas emissions can increase air pollution, and rising temperatures can also affect the formation and release of pollutants. Unhealthy air days are expected to become more frequent, and more intense due to climate change. Climate change is likely to increase three main air contaminants in Minnesota: ozone, particulate matter (including wildfire smoke), and allergens. These air pollutants can cause or exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, and asthma. Pollen is intensifying with climate change, and can trigger allergies, asthma attacks, and affect other respiratory conditions. In Minnesota, asthma affects one in 16 children (6.4%) and one in 13 adults (7.4%). People with asthma need to be especially aware of pollen sources and seasons to prevent an allergy-related asthma attack. There are three pollen seasons in Minnesota: trees, grasses, and weeds. Trees are the first to release pollen, typically starting in early April, grasses usually ramp up pollen release in early June, and weeds typically begin releasing pollen in mid-June and continue until the first hard frost. Research shows that the growing season for ragweed pollen, which is highly allergenic, has increased by 15 to 25 days in and around Minnesota. The lengthening pollen season is strongly related to climate change characteristics, such as lengthening of the frost-free season and later timing of the first fall frost. Section 3 17 Hazards 26