Heat Resource Center
Comprehensive advice, tips and tricks, and resources to help your community prepare for and withstand heat waves
Is your community prepared for heat waves?
Heat waves can pose severe risks. This extreme weather phenomenon not only disrupts daily routines, but can also lead to serious health issues such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Especially vulnerable are the elderly, young children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
Moreover, heat waves can exacerbate drought conditions, intensify wildfires, and strain power grids due to increased usage of air conditioning, thus amplifying their potential for widespread harm.
How do heat waves happen?
Heat waves typically occur when high atmospheric pressure traps hot air in an area, resulting in abnormally high temperatures that persist for several days or even weeks. The swift onset and prolonged nature of heat waves can have a profound impact on communities.
Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States,
resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year.
Helpful resources and recommended reading
We’ve put together some resources from FEMA, CDC, and other trusted organizations to help you prepare for and ensure the safety of your community during extreme heat and heat waves.
These resources cover a wide range of topics, including tips for staying cool, recognizing heat-related illnesses, and developing an emergency plan.
Beat the heat with these expert insights
Beat the Heat: How Hydration Can Keep Communities Healthy and Energized This Summer
As the scorching summer months approach, it is imperative for governments and municipalities to prioritize the health and well-being of…
Heat Waves: To Name or Not?
Heat waves are hot, hazardous to your health, and on the rise. This steamy weather phenomenon occurs when high atmospheric…
Surviving the Sizzle: Essential Tips for Heatwave Protection
As the summer sun intensifies, so does the risk of heat waves. These prolonged periods of extreme heat can pose…
Battling the Blaze: Innovative Mitigation Strategies to Beat the Heat
As temperatures continue to climb, communities worldwide grapple with the pressing need for effective heat mitigation strategies. Rising temperatures have…
Tidal Basin’s Chief Development Officer, Carlos J. Castillo, Shares Insights with Government Executive on Federal Response to Extreme Heat
As the nation faces unprecedented heat waves, the urgent need to address both immediate and long-term climate challenges becomes evident….