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Ventura County Extreme Heat Action Plan Survey

Introduction
Ventura County is developing an Extreme Heat Action Plan to better prepare for very hot days and heat waves. We want to understand how hot weather affects people in our community and what support would be most helpful. This survey asks about your experiences during very hot weather in your daily life. Your responses will help Ventura County improve heat-related programs, information, and resources so they better meet community needs. This survey builds upon prior findings in the recent Farmworker Housing Survey to provide clear information about hot weather and how it impacts the County’s communities that are most at risk.

Survey Respondent Privacy and Expectations
This survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. The survey does not ask for your name, email address, or other contact information, and responses are anonymous. This means your answers are not connected to your identity. Individual survey answers will be stored securely and only reviewed by the project team. We may include the overall survey results in our project reporting, but no individual answers will ever be linked back to you.

If you have any additional questions about this survey or would like future project updates, please email the Ventura County project lead, Roxane Beigel-Coryell (Roxane.BeigelCoryell@venturacounty.gov) or call at 805-767-8943. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.
Section 1: Community Concerns and Lived Experiences with Hot Weather
1.In the past five years, have you or someone you know experienced any of the following during very hot weather? (Select all that apply)
2.When it becomes very hot, what do you or people you know usually do? (Select all that apply)
3.Do you work outdoors or in hot environments?
4.How do you and/or people you know find relief from heat at work? (Select all that apply)
5.When it’s very hot, what are you most concerned about? (Select all that apply)
6.In your own words, how does hot weather affect your daily life?
Section 2: Access to Hot Weather-Related Resources in Ventura County
7.Where do you usually hear about County resources or information on how to stay safe during hot weather (e.g., where cooling centers are located and their hours of operation)? (Select all that apply)
8.How often do you use the following Ventura County cooling and heat-safety resources? Please select one option for each resource.
Not aware of this resource
Aware but have not used
Have used
a. Heat-safety information or alerts (e.g., emergency alerts, flyers, social media, preparedness info)
b. County/City cooling centers (library, senior center, community center)
c. Public pools or splash pads
d. Shade structures, bus shelters, or other public “cool spots”
e. Water fountains or water distribution sites
f. Energy assistance programs (bill assistance, weatherization
g. Calling 2-1-1 or using County cooling resources such as listings of cooling center locations
9.How helpful are the following Ventura County cooling and heat-safety resources for you and your family? Please select one response for each resource.
Have not used before
Not helpful at all
A little helpful
Not sure
Helpful
Very helpful
a. Heat-safety information or alerts (e.g., emergency alerts, flyers, social media, preparedness info)
b. County/City cooling centers (library, senior center, community center)
c. Public pools or splash pads
d. Shade structures, bus shelters, or other public “cool spots”
e. Water fountains or water distribution sites
f. Energy assistance programs (bill assistance, weatherization
g. Calling 2-1-1 or using County cooling resources such as listings of cooling center locations
10.Have you experienced any of the following barriers when trying to access County cooling centers and/or heat safety resources? (Select all that apply)
11.When you need relief from excessive heat, do cooling centers and/or heat safety resources in Ventura County feel easy for you and your family to access?
Not at all easy to access
A little easy to access
Somewhat easy to access
Mostly easy to access
Very easy to access
12.If you or someone you care for feels sick from heat or heat-related illness, where would you go for care? (Select all that apply)
13.In the past five years, have you or someone you know or care for tried to get help when it's very hot but weren't able to? If yes, please describe.
Section 3: Gaps in Heat-Relief Resources in Ventura County
14.When temperatures are very high or you feel very hot, what makes it difficult for you to stay safe or cool? (Select all that apply)
15.Which three resources would you use if the County offered them?
Section 4: Demographic Information
16.What is your age?
17.How do you describe your gender identity?
18.What racial or ethnic groups describe you? (Select all that apply)
19.What is your current occupation or sector of work? Select the option that best describes you.
20.Do you or anyone in your immediate family participate in any of the following programs? Please select all that apply.
21.Which of the following best describes your living situation? Please select all that apply.
22.What best describes your current situation?
23.What is your zip code?
24.Do you or someone in your family have any health conditions that may make it harder to stay safe during extreme heat? (Select all that apply)
25.What language(s) do you speak in conversation or feel most comfortable using? (Select all that apply)
Optional Question:
26.Is there anything else you would like to share? Feel free to include any ideas, concerns, or questions you have about extreme heat and related resources in Ventura County.