Natural Disasters
Extreme Heat
Always call 911 if you are in immediate danger and need emergency help.
Individuals, communities, and businesses can plan for and
reduce the effects of extreme heat. Keep yourself and your family cool when
the thermometer tops out. Check weather
alerts and warnings from the National Weather Service.
Prepare for extreme heat
Individuals and families - learn about the dangers and know what to expect:
Other sites related to preparedness
- National Weather Service: Heat Wave - a major summer killer
- FEMA: Are you ready? Extreme Heat
- Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness. The best defense is prevention and how to reduce the risks. (from Center for Disease Control)
- Helping older adults plan for extreme heat
- Prepare your home early. Repair or replace your air conditioner before you need it. Don't wait until a heat wave to buy a fan!
- Know your community evacuation routes. Prolonged hot weather often means drought, which greatly increases the risk of wild fires where you live. Get a kit, make a family plan. (from ready.gov)
- Keep food safe in case of a blackout - know ahead of time what you can do to keep food safe during an emergency. (from USDA Food Inspection and Safety)
The Excessive Heat Events Guidebook offers best practices and options to help community officials, emergency managers, and others prepare for heat emergencies.
Communities - adopt development strategies to reduce heat islands and coordinate local efforts:
Urban and suburban areas can be "heat islands," a zone 2-10 degrees F warmer than the surrounding rural countryside. Because they are warmer, heat islands use more energy to keep cool, which raises costs and reduces air quality. Communities can invest in long-term strategies such as:
- Promoting or installing cool or vegetated "green" roofs
- Planting more trees and vegetation
- Switching to cooler paving materials.
More information about heat islands and what communities can do
Cities are increasingly starting heat wave response programs that coordinate efforts among local agencies and alert residents. Common examples of "best practices" include:
- Activate telephone heat hotlines
- Alert neighborhood volunteers, family members, and friends
- Provide public air-conditioned buildings and transportation to these facilities
- Work with local "aging agencies" to educate at-risk individuals.
Read more about heat wave response programs and examples.
Offices, businesses, and other work sites - inform staff how to work safely and take steps to reduce energy demands:
Heat-induced occupational illnesses, injuries, and reduced productivity can occur in a hot work environment. More information how to prepare ahead for work-related heat stress (from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
Building owners can follow five steps to save energy in summer:
- Measure the energy use of your building(s) and set an energy savings goal.
- Inspect cooling system equipment now and perform monthly maintenance.
- Turn back, or turn off cooling equipment when not needed.
- Get the occupants involved.
- Improve lighting systems.
More tools and resources for businesses, hospitals, schools, and others.
Hot weather can make air pollution worse. Click the map for info about today's air quality forecast.
During extreme heat
Check air quality where you live - hot weather can worsen ozone levels and other types of air quality.
CALL 911 in case of heat-related illness - heat stress, heat exhaustion or HEAT STROKE can result in death.
If you lost power: ALERT: Generator exhaust is toxic. Always put generators outside well away from doors, windows, and vents. Never use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas. Carbon monoxide (CO) is deadly, can build up quickly, and linger for hours. More information.
PREVENTION IS THE BEST DEFENSE! Stay out of direct sun and wear sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Be extra careful about sensitive individuals like children, the elderly, or the sick. Never ever leave anyone or an animal alone in a car, or a pool or other risky location, not even for "just a few minutes."
Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening. Spend time in cool places like a shopping mall, a library, or a theater.
Other sites related to extreme heat
- More about hot weather health emergencies from Centers for Disease Control
- Calor extremo (en español) and other languages.
National Weather Service: Use the temperature and humidity to look up the "heat index" - how hot it feels.
Remember pets!
Make sure all animals have plenty of fresh water and are able to move out of direct sunlight. Also...
- Save energy - reduce your home power use to help reduce brownouts or blackouts and smog/air pollution. Turn off nonessential lights, televisions, games, and computers, and unplug chargers.
- More sun safety action steps. Sunwise Kids.
If the power goes out...
- Be aware of yours and others' risk for heat stroke or other heat-related health illness. Drink plenty of fluids, wear light clothing, and stay indoors. Move to a lower floor or basement if possible. More help.
- If the power is out for over 2 hours, be aware of the safety of food in your refrigerator and freezer. Never test food by tasting it! More on food safety from CDC.
Driving? Don't top off...
When you fill up remember not to top off your gas tank. Topping off can spill gasoline which quickly evaporates. Gasoline vapors can harm your family's health and make ozone pollution and smog worse. In hot weather, buy gas in the early morning or at night. Read more on the dangers of toppig off your gas tank. No Sobrellene su Tanque de Gasolina (español).
Hot tips for a cool summer. Tips to help you and your family find ways to help reduce pollution and learn about the environment. Doing little things can go a long way to having a cool summer.