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Climate and Health in
Central Harlem - Morningside Heights

Extreme heat, coastal storms, flooding and episodes of elevated ozone are climate-related hazards that may increase with climate change and have important public health impacts in New York City. Extreme weather can cause power outages, which also threaten public health. This report provides neighborhood indicators of climate-related hazards, vulnerability and health impacts.

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights includes ZIP Codes: 10026,10027,10030,10037,10115.

Climate Hazards

Topic

Compared to other neighborhoods

All neighborhoods

Topic

Compared to other neighborhoods

Ozone

Ozone (O3) (Mean ppb) Summer 2021

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the ozone (o3) (mean ppb) summer 2021 is Bettercompared to the NYC average.

Ozone is a common air pollutant that can harm breathing and worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 28.5

Manhattan 27.9

New York City 30.2

Mean ppb

Ozone (O3) (Mean ppb) Summer 2021

Mean ppb

Trends Over Time

Mean ppb

By Neighborhood

Mean ppb

Surface temperature

Spatial average of surface temperature (Degrees Fahrenheit), 11:22 AM, July 17, 2018

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the spatial average of surface temperature (degrees fahrenheit), 11:22 am, july 17, 2018 is Middlecompared to the NYC average.

Surface temperatures vary based on vegetative cover (which promotes cooling), as well as by materials that retain heat (like paved roads, sidewalks, and buildings). Hotter neighborhoods tend to have more heat-exacerbated deaths associated with extreme heat events.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 97.4

Manhattan 98.3

New York City 98.6

Degrees Fahrenheit

Spatial average of surface temperature (Degrees Fahrenheit), 11:22 AM, July 17, 2018

Degrees Fahrenheit

Trends Over Time

Degrees Fahrenheit

By Neighborhood

Degrees Fahrenheit

Flood risk

Area located within hurricane evacuation zones 1-6 (percent), 2013

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the area located within hurricane evacuation zones 1-6 (percent), 2013 is Worsecompared to the NYC average.

Areas in evacuation zones are at increased risk of flooding during coastal storms. They may be ordered to evacuate in the event of a hurricane or coastal flooding.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 64.3

Manhattan 48.9

New York City 46.9

Percent

Area located within hurricane evacuation zones 1-6 (percent), 2013

Percent

Trends Over Time

Percent

By Neighborhood

Percent

Health Outcomes

Topic

Compared to other neighborhoods

All neighborhoods

Topic

Compared to other neighborhoods

Heat ED visits

Heat stress emergency department visits (rate per 100,000 residents), 2014

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the heat stress emergency department visits (rate per 100,000 residents), 2014 is Worsecompared to the NYC average.

ED visits due to heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, represent part of the public health burden of extreme heat.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 4.4*

Manhattan 3.3

New York City 3.7

Estimated annual rate per 100,000

*Estimate is based on small numbers so should be interpreted with caution.

Heat stress emergency department visits (rate per 100,000 residents), 2014

Estimated annual rate per 100,000

Trends Over Time

Estimated annual rate per 100,000

By Neighborhood

Estimated annual rate per 100,000

Asthma ED visits (age 5 to 17)

Asthma emergency department visits among children ages 5 to 17 years (per 10,000) 2020

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the asthma emergency department visits among children ages 5 to 17 years (per 10,000) 2020 is Worsecompared to the NYC average.

Severe asthma attacks can result in a visit to the ED. Things like smoke, air pollution, dust mites, cockroaches, mold, pollen and pet dander can trigger asthma.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 139.9

Manhattan 65.9

New York City 57.1

Estimated annual rate per 10,000

The start of COVID-19 in Spring 2020 reduced the overall volume of ED visits, including those for asthma, which may have contributed to decreases in asthma ED visit and hospitalization counts and rates in 2020.

Asthma emergency department visits among children ages 5 to 17 years (per 10,000) 2020

Estimated annual rate per 10,000

Trends Over Time

Estimated annual rate per 10,000

By Neighborhood

Estimated annual rate per 10,000

Vulnerability - Built Environment

Topic

Compared to other neighborhoods

All neighborhoods

Topic

Compared to other neighborhoods

Older adults with AC

Adults 65+ Reporting Air Conditioning in the Home (Percent) 2013

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the adults 65+ reporting air conditioning in the home (percent) 2013 is Bettercompared to the NYC average.

Older adults (over 65) are more vulnerable to hot weather and heat stress. Air conditioning reduces the risk of heat stroke and other heat-related illness.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 95.8*

Manhattan 88.5

New York City 87.7

Percent

*Estimate is based on small numbers so should be interpreted with caution.

Adults 65+ Reporting Air Conditioning in the Home (Percent) 2013

Percent

Trends Over Time

Percent

By Neighborhood

Percent

Grass and tree cover

Area with vegetative cover including trees and grass (percent), 2017

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the area with vegetative cover including trees and grass (percent), 2017 is Middlecompared to the NYC average.

Vegetative cover is the land covered by trees, grass, or other plants instead of a hard surface like roads, sidewalks, or buildings. Vegetative cover tends to reduce temperatures in the immediate area and may increase air quality.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 29.0

Manhattan 26

New York City 38

Percent

Area with vegetative cover including trees and grass (percent), 2017

Percent

Trends Over Time

Percent

By Neighborhood

Percent

Neighborhood building quality

Homes near structures rated good or excellent (percent), 2017

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the homes near structures rated good or excellent (percent), 2017 is Worsecompared to the NYC average.

Building quality predicts the number of housing maintenance deficiencies in a residence that place residents at increased risk of acute or chronic health problems.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 71.6

Manhattan 85.3

New York City 80.7

Percent

Homes near structures rated good or excellent (percent), 2017

Percent

Trends Over Time

Percent

By Neighborhood

Percent

Vulnerability - Population Characteristics

Topic

Compared to other neighborhoods

All neighborhoods

Topic

Compared to other neighborhoods

Psychological distress

Adults aged 18 years and older reporting serious psychological distress (percent), 2012

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the adults aged 18 years and older reporting serious psychological distress (percent), 2012 is Bettercompared to the NYC average.

Mental health conditions like series psychological distress can be worsened by extreme weather such as heat waves and coastal storms.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights N/A**

Manhattan 5

New York City 5.5

Percent

**Estimate is suppressed due to insufficient data.

Adults aged 18 years and older reporting serious psychological distress (percent), 2012

Percent

Trends Over Time

Percent

By Neighborhood

Percent

Independence difficulty

Adults aged 18 and older with independent living difficulty (percent), 2013-17

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the adults aged 18 and older with independent living difficulty (percent), 2013-17 is Middlecompared to the NYC average.

People with disabilities or access or functional needs may need additional support during extreme weather. For example, they may need extra planning for safe travel out of evacuation zones during a hurricane, or back-up electricity to support medical equipment during power outages. Information provided here about adults with independent living difficulties can help emergency management professionals better prepare our residents for emergencies.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 5.9

Manhattan 4.6

New York City 5.5

Percent

Adults aged 18 and older with independent living difficulty (percent), 2013-17

Percent

Trends Over Time

Percent

By Neighborhood

Percent

Poverty

People living below federal poverty level (percent), 2008-2012

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the people living below federal poverty level (percent), 2008-2012 is Worsecompared to the NYC average.

Neighborhood poverty measures residents' access to economic stability, education, adequate health care, safe housing and freedom from stress. Neighborhoods with higher poverty tend to have less access to these factors and experience worse health outcomes.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 27.7

Manhattan 17.5

New York City 19.9

Percent

People living below federal poverty level (percent), 2008-2012

Percent

Trends Over Time

Percent

By Neighborhood

Percent

Older adults living alone

Adults aged 65 years and older who live alone (percent), 2017-21

In Central Harlem - Morningside Heights, the adults aged 65 years and older who live alone (percent), 2017-21 is Worsecompared to the NYC average.

Older adults are more vulnerable to extreme weather. Those living alone may have more difficulty getting resources they need in an emergency, and are at higher risk of weather-related illnesses like heat stroke and hypothermia.

Neighborhood Comparison

Central Harlem - Morningside Heights 45.7

Manhattan 40.5

New York City 29.3

Percent

Adults aged 65 years and older who live alone (percent), 2017-21

Percent

Trends Over Time

Percent

By Neighborhood

Percent

What is the City doing?

Plants trees, funds Cool Roof projects, and supports heat awareness trainings and more to address extreme heat.
Set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 using the OneNYC strategic plan.
Helps low-income households buy and install air conditioners.
Operates the largest electric municipal fleet in the nation.
Supports energy-efficiency changes in municipal and community buildings.

What can you do?

Be a Buddy and check in on neighbors to help them stay cool when it’s hot.
Get info during weather emergencies.
Request a street tree to help cool your neighborhood.

More NYC neighborhood data

NYC Community Health Profiles.

Indicator ranking

Each indicator is placed in one of three categories:

Better
Middle
Worse

This shows us how the neighborhood compares to other NYC neighborhoods, if you ranked all of the NYC neighborhoods based on this indicator.

Better: in the top 1/3rd of all NYC neighorhoods.
Middle: it's close to the NYC median - ranking somewhere in the middle third of all neighborhoods.
Worse: in the bottom 1/3rd of NYC neighborhoods.

These are only based on the distribution of data values, not the range. The absolute values of indicators in different categories may not be all that different.

Change Report

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Climate and Health in Central Harlem - Morningside Heights

Climate Hazards

Health Outcomes

Vulnerability - Built Environment

Vulnerability - Population Characteristics

Climate and Health in
Central Harlem - Morningside Heights