Heat Waves
Our community of scientists and researchers are working to better quantify and reduce the impacts of heat waves. The burden of heat-related health effects, particularly among vulnerable individuals is expected to increase, as heatwaves are projected to increase in frequency, intensity, and duration. In August 2003, up to 35,000 people died in a European heatwave. Similarly, a 1995 heatwave killed 739 Chicagoans. Over the last century, heatwaves killed more people in the US than hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods combined.
This site is designed to bring a national community of researchers together to more effectively track the number of heat related morbidity and mortality incidents and more importantly to explore how regional energy, climate, physical morphology, socio-economic and governmental policies affect the occurence of these incidents so we can more effectively reduce their occurence.
Local and regional governments and researchers provide this community documents and plans they have developed to reduce vulnerability. This includes adaptation, response and mitigation plans as well as resource allocation and resource deployment plans.
