Federal and State Responses to Extreme Heat

Governments are mobilizing resources to address the impacts of longer and more intense heat waves on public health and infrastructure.

1 minute read

July 12, 2024, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Two utility workers looking up at power lines against purplish sunset sky.

Tom Wang / Adobe Stock

In a piece for Pew Trusts, Kristiane Huber outlines state and federal efforts to prepare for extreme heat and protect residents from its most severe impacts.

As Huber points out, “The problem is likely to get worse, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts there is a 55% chance that 2024 will be hotter than 2023—the hottest year since global records began in 1850.”

At the state level, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Arizona, and others have issued action plans and toolkits to guide local governments and explore mitigation strategies. Some cities have also created offices dedicated to heat mitigation.

For its part, the federal government launched the heat.gov website, which offers resources and tools for communities, and “The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new Heat and Health Index, a national tool intended to identify the places most likely to experience negative heat-related health impacts and to help communities prepare for a hotter future.”

Huber concludes, “The concerted effort across federal and state governments to raise awareness, develop strategies, and invest in near- and long-term solutions in response to extreme heat represents a significant step in preparing communities and ecosystems for the perils of a warmer climate.” However, more resources are needed to ensure these efforts reach the communities most at risk.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pew Trusts

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Man in teal shirt opening door to white microtransit shuttle with cactus graphics and making inviting gesture toward the camera.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps

New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

June 13 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Group of people at table set ouf with picnic food on street during a neighborhood block party.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors

A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.

June 13 - The Kansas City Star

Crowd gathered with protest signs on April 5, 2025 on steps of Minnesota state capitol protesting Trump cuts to social security and other federal programs.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us

Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.

June 13 - Shelterforce Magazine