HUD Issues Extreme Heat Playbook

As policymakers at all levels of government are beginning to recognize the significant threat posed by extreme heat, particularly to vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly., the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued an Extreme Heat Playbook designed to help cities understand the public health risks of extreme heat and provide best practices for building resilience and mitigating the impacts. 

According to a press release from HUD, “The Extreme Heat ‘Playbook’ is an actionable guide for planning and implementing measures, emphasizing evaluating existing community strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities; updating policies and protocols to address current and future conditions; lowering cooling costs; and highlighting the critical importance of resilience amid climate change, given the increase of severe extreme heat events.”

The guide identifies 16 strategies, complete with examples and a list of federal funding sources and resources. “Built upon four clear action tracks, the playbook includes multiple strategies within each section and provides project profiles that illustrate how other communities have addressed the impacts of extreme heat.”

The press release adds, “The ‘Playbook’ aligns with the National Heat Strategy introduced by the Biden-Harris Administration to coordinate a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to extreme heat from 2024 through 2030, as well as the newly-launched Extreme Heat Call to Action and the White House Climate Resilience Framework.”