Extreme Heat Preparedness in Milwaukee

What Milwaukee residents should know

In Wisconsin, Milwaukee is one of the more vulnerable locations during an extreme heat event. We worked with UniteWI, Milwaukee Health Department, and Sixteenth Street Health Center in 2018 to learn how prepared residents are for an extreme heat event following the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) model. We have shared this data with our partners to help inform heat planning and communication activities. Read more about CASPER findings in a brief report (PDF) published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal.

Below are some key findings from this event:

• 31% of households had symptoms due to heat this past summer
• 56% of household felt too hot in their home sometimes, most of the time or always
• 63% of household do not know the location of a nearby cooling center
• 91% of households reported having some form of air conditioning

Extreme heat tips

• Never leave people or pets in a parked car.
• Check on your neighbors.
• Drink lots of water, take cool showers, and wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Find somewhere with air conditioning, like the library, mall, movie theater, or community center.