Population (2019): 441,559
Fort Wayne, IN
Future impacts
| Scenario | No. of extreme heat events per year | No. of extreme precipitation events per decade |
|---|---|---|
| Current | 22 | 7 |
| 2050s - Medium Emissions Scenario | 61 | 9 |
| 2050s - High Emissions Scenario | 74 | 9 |
| Percentage change in the medium scenario | 3% | 1% |
| Percentage change in the high scenario | 3% | 1% |
Climate change beliefs
Residents of metropolitan Fort Wayne are relatively skeptical—even compared to their fellow Hoosiers—about climate change, its connections to human actions, or the likelihood of its impact upon their lives.
| Response option | Percentage |
|---|---|
| No | 22% |
| Yes | 68% |
| Don't know | 11% |
| Response option | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Most scientists think climate change is happening | 53% |
| There is a lot of disagreement among scientists about whether or not climate change is happening | 34% |
| Most scientists think climate change is not happening | 0% |
| Don't know enough to say | 13% |
| Response option | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Entirely or mostly by human activities | 30% |
| Equally by natural and human activities | 33% |
| Entirely or mostly by natural causes | 6% |
| I am uncertain what is causing climate to change | 10% |
| Climate change is not happening | 22% |
| Response option | Percentage |
|---|---|
| They are being harmed right now | 62% |
| In 10 years | 15% |
| In 25 years | 6% |
| In 50 years | 7% |
| In 100 years | 6% |
| Never | 5% |
Information, trust, and experience
Fort Wayne residents trust their families and friends to provide them with reliable information about extreme weather far more than they trust public officials.
| Response option | Don’t trust at all | Trust some | Trust a lot | Don't know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My own judgment | 3% | 38% | 56% | 4% |
| National or international scientists | 5% | 46% | 41% | 8% |
| Indiana scientists | 4% | 46% | 39% | 11% |
| State public officials | 3% | 47% | 37% | 13% |
| Local public officials | 9% | 64% | 24% | 4% |
| Media sources | 8% | 61% | 31% | 0% |
| Family, friends, and neighbors | 4% | 51% | 42% | 3% |
| Response option | Not at all informed | Slightly informed | Moderately informed | Very informed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme weather events (e.g., flooding, drought, heat waves, etc.) that may affect me or my family’s well-being | 2% | 12% | 59% | 26% |
| Household practices that can reduce the risks future extreme weather events pose to me or my family | 5% | 32% | 49% | 14% |
| Programs or policies that can reduce the risks future extreme weather events pose to my community | 11% | 46% | 38% | 6% |
| Response option | Impact me | Impact people I know | Not impacted | Don’t know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destructive flood (caused property damage) | 4% | 37% | 54% | 4% |
| Health impacts from heat waves (dehydration, heat stroke, death, etc.). | 5% | 47% | 46% | 2% |
| Health impacts from cold temperatures (frost bite, death, etc.) | 3% | 31% | 59% | 7% |
| Disease caused by ticks or mosquitoes (Lyme, West Nile, Zika, etc.) | 8% | 40% | 47% | 5% |
| Damaging winds (caused property damage or injuries) | 20% | 49% | 30% | 1% |
| Destructive droughts | 10% | 41% | 44% | 6% |
Climate change at home
A relatively high percentage of homeowners have already begun to replace their lawn with pollinators species and use shade trees to reduce cooling demand. Many would like to begin to use other household resilience strategies.
| Response option | Don't know | Yes | No, but would like to | No, don’t want to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade trees | 2% | 70% | 13% | 15% |
| Improved insulation (windows, attic, etc.) to reduce energy use | 4% | 75% | 18% | 3% |
| Gardens to hold and soak in rain water (a rain garden) | 7% | 23% | 46% | 23% |
| A programmable thermostat to reduce energy use | 2% | 77% | 13% | 8% |
| Solar panels to reduce carbon dioxide emissions | 6% | 2% | 56% | 36% |
| Prairie grasses/wildflowers in my yard to reduce lawn size | 4% | 24% | 17% | 55% |
| Pavement that absorbs water on my driveway or sidewalk ("water-permeable pavement") | 14% | 13% | 39% | 34% |
| Rainwater barrels to collect water runoff | 3% | 8% | 43% | 46% |
| Tree removal to reduce my home's risks from high winds/tornadoes | 6% | 33% | 22% | 40% |
| A sprinkler system to maintain my lawn during droughts | 5% | 6% | 16% | 73% |
| Response option | Currently doing this | Not doing, but considering | Used to, no longer | Never did, don’t want to | Unsure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compost food waste | 13% | 33% | 15% | 38% | 1% |
| Replace incandescent bulbs with more efficient bulbs | 80% | 9% | 7% | 4% | 1% |
| Set temperature on my water heater to 120° or below | 52% | 16% | 1% | 15% | 16% |
| Have flood insurance coverage | 18% | 17% | 8% | 48% | 9% |
| Use AC to cool my home | 91% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 0% |
| Use fans (ceiling, box, etc.) to cool my home | 82% | 6% | 4% | 7% | 1% |
| Grow food (fruit trees, vegetable garden, etc.) | 30% | 30% | 23% | 17% | 0% |
Community policies and programs
The policies or programs that Fort Wayne residents most “support” to address heat and precipitation challenges in their area include a mix of longer-term resilience practices and shorter-term, engineering-driven solutions.
| Response option | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | Unsure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use public funding so all residents can afford air conditioning | 30% | 37% | 16% | 19% | 7% |
| Replace some paved areas with water-absorbent landscape | 33% | 51% | 7% | 4% | 4% |
| Build stronger and higher flood walls where necessary | 40% | 45% | 5% | 3% | 7% |
| Require residents to use less water during droughts | 41% | 39% | 11% | 7% | 2% |
| Expand local reservoirs or extend more pipelines to other water sources | 30% | 43% | 7% | 7% | 12% |
| Plant more trees on town streets to reduce impacts of flooding and heat waves | 47% | 34% | 7% | 3% | 9% |
| Mandate that key services be scheduled for cooler evening hours | 20% | 28% | 20% | 13% | 19% |
| Implement a buyout program for flood-prone properties | 21% | 39% | 14% | 8% | 17% |
| Provide vulnerable populations with free health services during heat waves | 36% | 35% | 16% | 6% | 6% |
| Construct new transportation routes to reduce the impact of flooding | 24% | 41% | 17% | 7% | 12% |
| Adopt a text-based early warning system to reduce risks from heat waves | 39% | 40% | 6% | 9% | 5% |
| Construct more bike lanes/routes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions | 50% | 33% | 7% | 7% | 3% |
| Offer public funding to help residents install solar panels | 33% | 36% | 17% | 8% | 6% |
| Increase pesticide treatments to reduce health risks from ticks and mosquitoes | 36% | 40% | 12% | 6% | 6% |
| Provide repellent and education sessions to reduce health risks from ticks and mosquitoes | 34% | 41% | 13% | 6% | 7% |
| Use funding to help residents plant shade trees around their homes | 28% | 32% | 22% | 10% | 8% |
| Use funding to help residents place water-absorbent landscaping around homes | 31% | 31% | 20% | 12% | 6% |
| Install more electric vehicle charging stations | 27% | 45% | 11% | 8% | 9% |
| Increase funding for emergency management services | 40% | 45% | 4% | 5% | 7% |
| Expand access to public transportation to reduce emissions | 45% | 33% | 9% | 5% | 9% |
