EPA's Role in Providing Heat Health Guidance for U.S. Cities

Heat is a leading weather-related killer in the United States. A growing older population coupled with a warming climate will act to increase the risk posed by excessive heat events (EHE) in the future. Fortunately, heat-related deaths are largely preventable through outreach and intervention. In 2006, collaborated with the CDC, NOAA's

National Weather Service, and local governments to develop a guidebook that helps communities evaluate their EHE vulnerability and identify strategies to limit adverse health impacts associated with EHEs. The

guidebook features case studies of effective response programs and provides best practices and lessons learned.

As an extension to its guidebook effort, EPA is conducting city needs assessment to determine what tools and information local decision-makers need to better prepare for extreme heat both now and in the future. Based on the output of the assessment, EPA plans to work with partnering

agencies to assemble and promote a tool kit that will enhance responses to heat in urban areas.