Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced a $20 million program to protect Californians from extreme heat on Tuesday, just as the state’s southern inhabitants braced for an extended period of scorching temperatures.
The governor’s office referred to periods of extreme heat as “the deadliest form of climate-driven extreme weather.” Heat Ready CA, a statewide multi-ethnic education effort, provides preparation information, emergency resources, and ways for remaining safer during these times.
The effects of climate change are now more obvious than ever before as temperatures continue to rise in California and the rest of the West, endangering the lives of millions of residents, according to Newsom.
The governor continued by stating that California is launching Heat Ready CA as yet another weapon in its armory to safeguard citizens against extreme heat.
According to Newsom’s office, the two-year campaign to protect people from extreme heat focuses on heat-sensitive populations at the most risk, such as people 65 years of age and older, laborers, people with impairments or chronic diseases, or women who are pregnant.
The initiative is a part of the governor’s $400 million Extreme Heat Action Plan, which directs the state’s reaction to heat waves by assisting at-risk groups, safeguarding front-line employees, and opening cooling facilities.
The Los Angeles Branch of the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a warning on Sunday about an extreme heat watch that will be in effect from Tuesday through Saturday for Southern California’s interior valleys, lower mountains, and deserts.
The NWS forecasts highs of 100 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit along with a potentially increased risk of wildfire. The extreme heat in California may apparently cause massive destruction and disturbance.
According to the governor’s office, Phase II of California’s Extreme Temperature Response Plan, which calls for more cooperation between state and local partners, is likely to begin on Tuesday.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly stated in a statement that respiratory problems and heat-related illnesses like dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are among the potentially deadly effects of extreme heat.
The governor’s office also underlined the value of avoiding alcoholic and caffeinated beverages while consuming at least two cups of water every hour to combat the extreme heat.