Beating Extreme Heat

Confronting Extreme Heat

It may surprise even the most seasoned emergency manager to learn that extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards. Excessive heat and high humidity events aren’t just uncomfortable: they can be dangerous and even deadly. The increasing frequency and severity with which they occur, and the cascading impacts these events can create, makes extreme heat a threat we must take quick action to combat.FEMA Region 5 moved that needle forward in early May by co-hosting an Extreme Heat Summit in Chicago. Subject matter experts from across the nation came together to discuss their findings and share their experiences with consequence management, occupational health, preparedness and hazard mitigation when confronting extreme heat events.

Discussion Topics & Key Findings

The discussions initially addressed heat risks and the potential impacts we face across the nation. Throughout the summit, the focus shifted to preparedness, planning and messaging issues, followed by topics related to extreme heat events and critical infrastructure, FEMA capabilities and authorities and occupational health.

I wanted to share a few key points that came from these robust conversations:

1.?????When planning for these events, we must consider the unique challenges individuals with disabilities face. At-risk populations cannot always take protective actions alone, and emergency management may need to assist.

2.?????Early, direct and clear communication before, during and after extreme heat events is key; additionally, demographics play a significant role, encompassing not only language but also cultural and age-related barriers. We need to leverage trusted advisors who are known to and respected in communities to deliver messages on important readiness and protective actions.

3.?????Fully understanding your community’s extreme heat risk requires fully understanding the local infrastructure and how power outages and other cascading impacts will affect it. Federal resources may be available through the Department of Energy and others to better understand how to best to leverage energy and infrastructure funding to mitigate against extreme heat.

4.?????The Biden Administration established an Interagency Extreme Heat Working Group last summer that has been working to identify ways that federal authorities can help reduce impacts on community lifelines, the food and supply chain disruptions, and local economies. For FEMA’s part, we are adding staff, specifically focused on hazard-resistant building codes, and engaging partners at the community level to further build capacity to counter this growing threat. FEMA also just launched a first in its history extreme heat-focused educational campaign, #SummerReady, which provides extreme heat safety tips for individuals, as well as helpful information and graphics for media and other stakeholders.

5.?????Catastrophe can ensue when the people who make up our nation’s first line of defense are not adequately supported or equipped to perform their jobs during extreme heat incidents. Preparing for and adapting to heat stress may initially prove costly and require additional planning, trainings and procedures, but it is a necessary investment to save lives and protect those who are protecting others. ?

The two-day summit concluded by sharing successful climate adaptation projects that address extreme heat and FEMA programs and resources that can be leveraged to combat the impacts of these events.

With the many important lessons learned from just two days of crucial conversations, we’re now developing agency recommendations that will shape future engagements aimed at supporting state, local, territorial and tribal partners. With immediate - and long-term actions identified guiding our next steps, we recognize the importance of steady-state coordinating, convening, problem solving and communicating that helps us build trust and partnerships so critical in the thick of an event. While much was accomplished with these initial discussions, there is still much to do; we’re ready for the challenge and look forward to working closely with the whole community to get it done.?

-Written by Thomas Sivek

Thomas Sivak is the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 5.