Analyzing changes to US municipal heat response plans during the COVID-19 pandemic

Extreme heat events are the deadliest weather-related event in the United States. Cities throughout the United States have worked to develop heat adaptation strategies to limit the impact of extreme heat on vulnerable populations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to local governments. This paper provides a preliminary review of strategies and interventions used to manage compound COVID-19extreme heat events in the 25 most populous cities of the United States. Heat adaptation strategies employed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic were not adequate to meet during the co-occurring compound hazard of COVID19-EHE. Long-term climate-adaptation strategies will require leveraging physical, financial, and community resources across multiple city departments to meet the needs of compound hazards, such as COVID-19 and extreme heat.

Automated summary

This paper provides a preliminary review of strategies and interventions used to manage compound COVID-19 and extreme heat events in the 25 most populous cities of the United States. It highlights the inadequacy of heat adaptation strategies employed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the importance of leveraging resources across multiple city departments to meet the needs of compound hazards.