The Missouri Department of Health monitors high temperatures and humidity across the state to prevent heat-related illness and death. The following are the heat crisis procedures used by the department.
The Department of Health will provide general health education with advice about avoiding heat-related illness and death to the public in late spring via publication of articles, news releases and distribution of brochures. Information on heat-related illness is also available through the Department of Health Home Page at
http://www.health.state.mo.us/ColdAndHeat/CAndH.html.
A statewide Hot Weather Health Advisory will be issued when heat indexes of 105° in a large proportion of the state are first reached (or predicted). The Department of Health will issue a statewide Advisory in the form of a news release to inform the public about the risks of heat-related illness and urge personal caution and concern for those at high risk. Monitoring of temperatures and heat indexes will be intensified. An Advisory will not be canceled. The Heat Index is determined by measuring temperature and humidity. Also known as apparent temperature, the Heat Index is a measure of how hot it feels to people at a certain combination of temperature and humidity. For example, a Heat Index of 105° is reached when the temperature is 95°F and the relative humidity is 50 percent, or the temperature is 90°F and the relative humidity is 67 percent.
A statewide Hot Weather Health Warning will be issued when:
The Department of Health will issue a statewide Warning in the form of a news release to warn the public that weather conditions are serious and that precautions to prevent heat-related illness and death are warranted. The department will also encourage local health departments to assure that cooling shelters are available and encourage other community agencies to provide relief from the heat stress. A Warning will be downgraded or canceled when heat indexes in a large proportion of the state fall below 105° for 48 hours and the forecast is for 48 to 72 hours of continued relief from heat stress.
The Department of Health will recommend to the Governor that a statewide Hot Weather Health Emergency be declared when:
An Emergency will be canceled when the heat indexes in a large proportion of the state fall below 105° for 48 hours and the National Weather Service predictions indicate a low probability for the return of severe conditions for the following 48 to 72 hours.
During a statewide Hot Weather Health Emergency, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will become the state-level coordinating agency for all participating state and federal agencies and other private and volunteer organizations. The SEMA Information Officer will be designated as the heat operations spokesperson at the state level during Hot Weather Health Emergencies.
Individuals should call their local county health department or local Emergency Management Agency when seeking heat emergency information or clarification, or to report health-threatening or intolerable heat conditions. State, county, city or volunteer agencies can call SEMA for assistance in coordinating relief efforts.