U-M Climate Week 2026 View Other Sessions

Extreme weather events, from flooding events and extreme heat to tornadoes
and extreme cold, do not affect everyone equally. LGBTQIA+ communities face compounding
vulnerabilities during disasters, which are shaped by housing instability, discrimination in
emergency services, and gaps in support networks. Drawing on recently published survey
research and ongoing focus groups with LGBTQIA+ Ohioans, this talk examines how gender
identity, sexual orientation, and other dimensions of social identity shape exposure to climate
hazards and associated negative health outcomes. The first half of the session will share findings on flooding and extreme heat experiences among Ohio’s queer communities, highlighting where existing disaster systems fall short and what queer-centered preparedness could look like. The second half turns from research to practice. Attendees will work through a short, hands-on climate emergency preparedness activity, choosing to focus on either a tornado or an extreme cold event. Using a guided worksheet, which will be available in print for in-room attendees and digitally for virtual participants, attendees will think through the essentials often overlooked in general preparedness advice. This activity will carry into an extended discussion period. Together, we’ll explore what it means to build disaster preparedness that centers, rather than overlooks, LGBTQIA+ communities left out of policy and practice.