As a heat wave across the West drives temperatures into the triple-digits, some Missoulians are finding it easier to escape the heat than others.
While a dip in the river or lingering in air-conditioned public spaces may temporarily relieve those without cool homes, more resources are needed as hotter summers become more common.
“Because of the vulnerability from extreme heat, we need to address it and get ahead of it,” said Amy Cilimburg, the executive director for the nonprofit Climate Smart Missoula.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys through Wednesday night, with an expected high temperature of 101 degrees. Following three previous days reaching 90 degrees or higher, the forecast calls for similar temperatures through the weekend and into early next week.
The 2017 Montana Climate Assessment found the state’s summers are increasingly hotter and drier, especially in July, August and September.
“We’re experiencing more and more heat in western Montana and Missoula and more summer days above 90 degrees,” said Susan Teitelman, climate resilience specialist with Climate Smart Missoula.
In 2020, the organization released a climate adaptation plan that reviewed who and what is most vulnerable to heat, drought, wildfire and other effects from climate change, Cilimburg said. However, Missoula doesn’t have a collective action plan for extreme heat, something Climate Smart is working to change, she said.
The deadly “heat dome” over the Pacific Northwest in late June and early July of 2021 spurred Climate Smart to ramp up Missoula’s heat preparation, Teitelman said. Many cities experienced record-breaking high temperatures, and the heat wave caused more than 250 deaths in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Northwest Climate Hub.
Climate Smart is working with the city, Missoula County and other stakeholders to develop tools for local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care facilities, schools and other entities to help them prepare for and respond to extreme heat. The toolkit should be available later this summer, Teitelman said.
Later this month, the organization will release a public guide to extreme heat information, including data, heat impacts, safety tips and available resources, Teitelman said. Climate Smart aims to help those more vulnerable to extreme heat such as older adults, outdoor workers, unhoused people and children, she said.
Teitelman said dedicated cooling centers — indoor, air-conditioned buildings where the public can cool down — were not identified as a high-priority need for Missoula during the toolkit planning. While cooling centers are a valuable resource, they are not always used and are not the best option for many people.
The community needs to be more creative and holistic to help people stay safe in their homes during the heat, Cilimburg said.
“Every home should be livable,” she said.
While many residents don’t have air conditioning, some may not use it because it is broken or drives up their power bill too much, Cilimburg said. Climate Smart is exploring options such as providing air conditioners or helping pay for energy bills, Teitelman added.
While it may seem contrary for a climate organization concerned about energy use to recommend air conditioning, in many cases it’s not optional, Cilimburg said.
“Heat is a threat,” Teitelman said. “If that means AC is needed, … we’re making that happen and thinking about the long-term.”
Ongoing efforts to prepare for the changing climate include making new and existing buildings more energy-efficient and electrifying appliances.
In the meantime, Climate Smart encourages people to stay cool, hydrated, informed, and connected by checking on neighbors, friends, and family, especially those who are older or more isolated, Teitelman said.
For unhoused people, the Poverello Center provides an air-conditioned place to sleep at night, but it is not accessible all hours of the day, said Stephanie Dolan, the shelter’s development director. People can stop by for water, meals, or to visit the Partnership Health Clinic, she said. The Johnson Street emergency shelter is open with 24/7 access, and while it might not have the best air conditioning, it is cooler than outside, Dolan said.
The organization’s Homeless Outreach Team is trying to reach as many people living on the street as it can to provide supplies and resources, Dolan said. The Poverello Center is asking for community donations of water or other hydration drinks, sunscreen, and bug spray to hand out.
Extreme conditions are particularly hard on people who are not allowed in either emergency shelter for breaking the rules, said Clayton Shaya with the Unhoused Neighbors Union.
Missoula’s summer heat waves shouldn’t be a surprise, and the city should at least take temporary measures, such as providing water stations, Shaya said.
“There should be places where people can rest in the weather,” he said. “If you can’t put in the permanent infrastructure to deal with these climate problems, population problems, addiction problems you’ve been watching the precursors of for years, … then the emergency structure should be tenfold.”
The city of Missoula has not historically opened cooling centers and has not received requests from the public, said communications director Ginny Merriam.
Missoula County Office of Emergency Management Director Adriane Beck said while the region doesn’t typically see heat emergencies that require a large-scale response, these prolonged heat waves are not without consequence. The office helps the public understand the forecast, its possible effects, and points them to resources, Beck said.
If forecasted extreme weather would have wider impacts, the office would consider providing community-oriented resources, such as opening a dedicated cooling center, extending facility hours, or offering additional transportation, Beck said.
“When we think of extreme weather or a heat dome or prolonged heat, normally that’s county-wide, but the impacts are not the same in all areas,” she said. “We’re really trying to determine where those impacts are going to be most adverse and where resources are most appropriate.”
If people can’t cool down in their own homes, the free and air-conditioned Mountain Line buses can take them to get respite at the Missoula Public Library, Southgate Mall, or a variety of large retailers that typically have good AC, Beck said.
The Missoula Public Library is typically more busy during all kinds of extreme weather, said Slaven Lee, the library’s director.
“Public libraries are open, accessible, and free to everyone all of the time, so we find we are a place of sanctuary for people,” Lee said. “A lot of regular patrons come in to escape the heat and the word spreads to others that we are a safer space to be during the heat.”
The four-story building has plenty of seating for people to spend the day in if they need to, said Lee. Along with multiple water fountains, visitors can purchase drinks and food at Clyde Coffee, located on the first floor.
The library’s safety specialists, who focus on building relationships with unhoused people, spend more time doing wellness checks with people during heat waves, Lee said. All staff is on the lookout for those who may be overheated, especially those vulnerable like seniors and children, they said.
While the library’s 106,000 square feet provides room for plenty of people, Lee said they would like to see more support in the community for those needing shelter from extreme weather. Missoula has an opportunity for a bigger plan for next year, Lee said.
“I hope that everyone knows they are welcome in the library,” they said. “You don’t have to buy anything, check anything out, or do anything in particular besides getting comfortable and using the space. Hopefully, people know it’s an option.”
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