NEWPORT, Ore. — Lincoln County Public Health presented a draft Climate Action Plan to the Board of Commissioners on June 18, summarizing community assessments, youth and staff engagement and proposed actions ranging from emergency preparedness to renewable-energy pilots.

Mary Anne Seifert, health-promotion specialist, and Sarah Hurd, health-promotion program manager, reviewed the background for the plan and the county’s next steps. Seifert said the draft builds on a 2018 community plan and a 2022–23 climate-and-health assessment that used Oregon Climate Change Research Institute projections.

The presentation emphasized health vulnerabilities on the coast — including respiratory impacts from wildfire smoke, heat effects among older adults and people with chronic conditions, food insecurity and mental‑health stress tied to extreme-weather events. Seifert described youth focus groups conducted in English and Spanish and said youth artwork would appear in the final materials.

Public Health shared the results of an internal staff survey (about 100 respondents) that helped shape priorities. The draft plan centers on actions the county can take to strengthen community resilience and health: energy efficiency and solar microgrids, green-infrastructure pilots (including shaded solar carports that provide both power and shelter), improved transportation options, water‑filling stations and emergency-preparedness outreach for older adults.

Seifert highlighted possible partnerships and funding sources, naming the Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon Health Authority public-health modernization funding and other agencies as potential collaborators. She also asked commissioners to review the draft and provide edits: “We really wanted to make sure before we finalize the plan that that all 3 of the commissioners had had an opportunity to review it and weigh in on it,” Seifert said.

Commissioners welcomed the draft and asked for continuity and pragmatic steps the county could implement. Commissioner Casey Miller said he wanted to preserve continuity with prior community work and avoid overcommitments by county staff. Commissioner Walter Chuck asked about alignment with state climate roadmaps; Seifert said the plan deliberately overlaps with state guidance and seeks grant opportunities such as those for community renewable energy and microgrids.

Public Works examples shared in the presentation included shoreline and culvert projects to plan for sea-level rise and high-tide flooding; county staff and community partners discussed possible pilot sites and grant applications.

Ending: Seifert asked commissioners to email suggested edits and to consider formal adoption once the board has had time to review the draft. Public Health said the climate-and-health work will continue under the public-health modernization program and be integrated into emergency-preparedness and community engagement efforts.