Climate change increases the severity and frequency of conditions that threaten human health, including floods, fires, wildfire smoke, heat waves and other natural emergencies. Vulnerability to the health impacts of climate change varies between communities, based on environmental and social factors. Factors that determine vulnerability include:
- Rates of existing medical conditions which can be worsened by climate change impacts
- Social isolation, especially among older people living alone.
- Housing and infrastructure that may not be built to withstand climate-related events or where evacuation may be more difficult.
- Financial, cultural, language, or other social barriers that limit access to transportation, information, health care, social services, and food.
The maps on this dashboard describe factors at the community level which increase health risks in extreme weather events. The dashboard is designed for community planning purposes, to inform strategies to mitigate risk and increase community resilience.
The maps are specific to types of emergency, such as flooding, heat, and wildfire. The first set of maps is related to flooding related to sea level rise and extreme heat. New maps will added here as they become available. For quick access to more information about each individual dashboard, please click on the links below to navigate to the select emergency type.
How to Use this Interactive Dashboard
- Select the extreme weather event of interest by clicking the icons
- Click on a census tract or enter your address in the search tool to see Coastal Flooding risk, Built Environment risk, and Social Vulnerability Factors for that census tract.
- For each community, the most important Social Vulnerability Factors (those that stand out as being in the most socially vulnerable 25% of Marin census tracts for that indicator) have an asterisk and are highlighted in red font
Disability Accommodations
Requests for disability accommodations may be made by email at HHSEpidemiology@MarinCounty.gov. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon requests
Sea Level Rise
Marin County is experiencing increasing coastal flooding due to sea level rise and increased extreme weather events. This dashboard describes the coastal communities that are most vulnerable to negative public health impacts of flooding, taking both the risk of flooding and social factors into account. Health impacts of floods include injury, displacement from homes, water-borne diseases, groundwater contamination, mold related illnesses and more.
Definitions of Indicators Included on this Map:
- Coastal Flood Risk: Proportion of the population within the census tract living in the coastal flood zone, based primarily on elevation.
- Social Vulnerability: The number of social vulnerability factors in the community, compared to other census tracts in Marin
- Built Environmental Risk Factors: Within the census tract, the amount of impervious surface, like asphalt, that prevent water from seeping into the ground.
The map above is a display of vulnerability to the effects of coastal flooding of each census tract in Marin County.
- The darkest purple areas are those with the highest flood related vulnerability, based on both flood risk and social factors, within Marin.
- The white areas are those at lowest risk, based on both coastal flooding risk and social vulnerability. Areas in bright pink have higher social vulnerability but lower coastal flooding risk, and areas in turquoise have higher coastal flooding risk but lower social vulnerability.
- Hatched lines indicate that 35% or more of the census tract is covered by impervious surfaces.
Additional Resources:
There are many jurisdictions, public agencies, and organizations across the county that are planning for and implementing sea level rise adaptation projects. For more detailed information on Marin sea level rise adaptation, visit: MarinSLR.org. The Marin County Climate Action Plan addresses the impacts of climate change and the need for local action. The Plan supports our climate-related programs, projects, policies, and initiatives, which we have created to: restore our planet, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote public health and well-being. The California Department of Public Health Climate Change and Health Equity Branch embeds health and equity in California climate change policy and planning, and embeds climate change and equity in public health policy and planning.
Extreme Heat
As temperatures rise due to climate change, Marin County is experiencing increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat. Extreme heat can lead to heat-related illnesses like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It can also worsen chronic health conditions and increase the risk of death. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of heat. This dashboard identifies Marin communities that are most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.
Definitions of Indicators included on this Map:
- Heat Risk: The average annual number of days during 2023-2024 that the census tract experienced an elevated heat risk
- Social Vulnerability: The number of social vulnerability factors in the community, compared to other census tracts in Marin
- Built Environmental Risk Factors: Within the census tract, the amount of impervious surface, like asphalt, that absorbs and retains heat, increasing already high temperatures; and, the amount of land not covered by tree canopy (trees and other plants help cool the environment)
The map above is a display of vulnerability to the effects of extreme heat of each census tract in Marin County.
- The darkest purple areas are those with the highest extreme heat vulnerability based on both heat risk and social factors, within Marin.
- The white areas are those at lowest risk, based on both heat risk and social vulnerability. Areas in bright pink have higher social vulnerability but lower heat risk, and areas in turquoise have higher heat risk but lower social vulnerability.
- Hatched lines indicate areas that are high in impervious surface and low in tree canopy coverage.