NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DISCUSSES THE DANGERS OF EXTREME HEAT WITH COMMUNITY CLIMATE RESILIENCY COORDINATOR KATHERIN SIBEL FROM THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & MENTAL HYGIENE

NEW YORK — Every year approximately 500 New Yorkers die due to the effects of extreme heat, making it the deadliest weather-related hazard in New York City. Most of these deaths occur when heat exacerbates existing medical conditions, such as heart disease, and many New Yorkers remain unaware of the risks.

On the latest episode of ¡Prepárate!, the Spanish-language podcast from NYC Emergency Management, Community Climate Resiliency Coordinator Katherin Sibel discusses why extreme heat is a growing public health emergency, how unjust urban planning decisions continue to affect communities today, and what New Yorkers can do to prepare themselves and their loved ones.

"Extreme heat causes more deaths annually than all other natural hazards combined and more than 500 New Yorkers die from heat each summer," said Katherin Sibel. "Thank you to NYCEM for having me on !Preparate! to discuss this subject. Using air conditioning is the best way to stay safe during hot weather. We also urge New Yorkers to stay hydrated, check on loved ones, and take simple steps to conserve energy so we can help keep power flowing across our city. If you don’t have air conditioner, please utilize a cooling center.”

You can listen to the latest ¡Prepárate! episode on SoundCloud.

Profile

Katherin Sibel, MSUP is a Community Climate Resiliency Coordinator for the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. As a researcher, she embraces her Indigenous identity to approach climate resiliency topics, such as extreme heat, flooding, and their impact on community health. As a former Community Planning & Capacity Building Reservist with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, she assisted communities in long-term recovery discussions and planning following hurricanes, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, Kat coordinates climate health programs with the NYC Department of Health's Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness (CHECW) and the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (OPER), among other NYC agencies, including the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice and NYC Emergency Management Agency.

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