This is the first cooling center award received in Washington state and the largest award Seattle has received under the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell celebrated the award of $5.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to install air-conditioning at five library branches as part of Seattle’s climate adaption efforts. This expands on the over 20 branches that already have air-conditioning and play an integral role in providing cooling and clean-air shelters for Seattle residents to get indoors during extreme heat and wildfire smoke events.
Seattle has a robust heat response plan which includes indoor public spaces with air-conditioning like libraries and community centers, indoor and outdoor water recreation, enhanced outreach to vulnerable neighbors in partnership with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, and the protection of critical infrastructure. More information on how to prepare for and what to do during an extreme heat event is available at seattle.gov/heat.
“Seattle is proud to be global leader on addressing the climate crisis and a key part of that work is our commitment to centering the communities most impacted by changes like extreme heat and smoke. This grant to expand air-conditioning in libraries will make a meaningful difference for vulnerable residents as we work to provide cooling and clean-air centers in every neighborhood,” said Mayor Harrell. “Addressing the climate crisis requires action, innovation, and collaboration, and I want to thank our federal delegation, FEMA, Washington state, and the Biden-Harris administration for this vital support as we work to create a more resilient, sustainable, and greener Emerald City. The climate crisis is too big for any city to solve on its own, and we look forward to continued partnership on this collective challenge.”
The five branches of The Seattle Public Library receiving the upgrade are the Columbia, Fremont, Queen Anne, University, and West Seattle branches. The work will include removal of existing HVAC and heat transfer systems, installation of new cooling systems, integration with existing control systems, and upgrading breakers and other equipment.
The upgrade project is estimated at $5.8 million which FEMA will contribute 90% to with the remaining 10% split between Washington State and the City, each contributing close to $300,000. In addition to the project costs, FEMA will fund up to $300,000 towards grant administration.
“Projects like the Seattle Public Library providing more options to get relief from the heat play a critical role in saving lives and reducing the threat of extreme heat to our most vulnerable,” said Victoria Salinas, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, FEMA Resilience
Most of the grant, approximately $4 million, will go towards construction costs for the upgrade with about $800,000 budgeted for architecture and engineering, and the remainder of the grant will cover administrative costs, taxes, and other contingencies. The completion of this project is expected to take two years and will be done site by site starting with the University and Columbia branches.
“The Seattle Public Library has made great strides in modernizing the systems of our 27 locations to continue serving as safe and comfortable public spaces for generations to come,” said Chief Librarian Tom Fay. “Thanks to FEMA’s important and generous funding, all Seattle libraries will be able to serve as reliable cooling shelters and clean air centers once this work is complete.”
In addition to libraries, Seattle has many types of City facilities available to the community to cool off during heat or get inside during smoke events. There are community centers with air-conditioning in Rainier Beach, the Chinatown-International District, Northgate, and Magnuson, a number of pools and other outdoor water recreation sites citywide, and the Seattle Center Armory.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle and the surrounding region have seen an increase in both the frequency and duration of heatwaves. The Washington Climate Impacts Group projects that this trend will continue throughout the century. Wildfire smoke events have also become more frequent, with the last decade seeing the highest fine particle levels since the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency started monitoring levels in 1980.
Climate change has impacted Seattle by intensifying all of the natural hazards we face. Summers are hotter and bring dangerous wildfire smoke, winter storms are colder and bring flooding and sea level rise. Emergency Planning now includes how we help people mitigate and prepare for longer periods of extreme weather. All City departments work together to lessen those impacts. Increasing the number of cooling centers in Seattle is an important component of the planning work to mitigate extreme heat.
The City of Seattle is both working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and preparing residents for facing climate impacts now. In addition to this important work decarbonizing libraries, Seattle is working with community partners to plan for Resilience Hubs, which focus on transforming community owned spaces to increase communication and access to critical services during times of climate emergency. The City is also centering climate resilience in the Duwamish Valley, creating a Resilience District to support the neighborhoods of South Park and Georgetown in preparing for sea level rise, reducing air pollution, and decarbonizing buildings.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides cost-share grants for cost-effective projects that reduce the impact of hazards on the community. This funding round became available through the Major Disaster Declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic, and prioritized activities that reduce the impacts of climate change.
What People are Saying
FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie Nunn
“We are proud to invest in Seattle’s efforts to make their community more resilient. Extreme heat is now a reality in our region and has harmful effects on people, so it’s important communities and individuals are prepared to address these risks. I applaud Washington and Seattle for the foresight to use FEMA grants for heat mitigation.”
Councilmember Maritza Rivera
“Our communities are feeling the effects of climate change, in rising summer temperatures and smoke from wildfires. This FEMA grant helps Seattle Public Libraries continue the upgrades to library branches, so they can serve as places of refuge from excessive heat and smoky air. I want to thank SPL for their efforts in prioritizing these important cooling and clean air upgrades and FEMA for giving us the ability to expand this important work on behalf of our residents.”
Office of Emergency Management Director Curry Mayer
“The Office of Emergency Management continuously looks for new ways to lessen the impact of hazards on Seattle. We are proud of the fact that our work with our partners at State EMD and FEMA Region 10 has resulted in securing funding that will directly mitigate the effects of extreme heat in Seattle and provide a place where all can feel comfortable and safe.”
Office of Sustainability and Environment Director Jessyn Farrell
“Climate change isn’t a mystery — it’s here, and we know what we need to do to combat it. Major investments like this one from FEMA allow cities to build resilient infrastructure and community spaces in every neighborhood. We are working fast to create a Seattle that is ready and able to protect all residents during climate crises through safe spaces, like libraries, where people can gather, cool off, and breathe clean air.”