Extreme heat events were in the news every day this summer. A recent NPR article cites data identifying extreme heat as the top weather-related cause of death in the United States.  The article points to how the Department of Homeland Security is using the new guidelines as incentives for officials to help design their own extreme temperature response plans.The guidelines may not be enforceable, but DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas observes that grant programs can be used to nudge communities to follow the guidelines. “(It’s) a matter of incentivizing communities to really participate in what should be a compulsory effort, given the threat to life and to critical infrastructure," Mayorkas explained.

Increasing Climate Action Funding For Communities

In July, President Biden doubled the funding available through the Federal Emergency Management's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities initiative, bringing the total to $2.3 billion. The program is aimed at helping states and local communities take proactive steps to reduce their vulnerability to extreme temperatures.

FEMA Guidelines for Action

Following are the primary sections included in the DHS-FEMA extgreme heat guidelines for communities (follow the link to learn more details).

• ACTION 1: MAKE AN EXTREME TEMPERATURE RESPONSE PLAN.

• ACTION 2: CONDUCT A THREAT AND HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT.

• ACTION 3: PLAN FOR AND ADAPT TO FUTURE CONDITIONS.

• ACTION 4: ADOPT AND ENFORCE NATURAL HAZARD-RESISTANT BUILDING CODES THAT CAN PROTECT

At paleBLUEdot we’re relieved this summer’s extreme conditions are being taken seriously.  It’s gratifying to see that the DHS-FEMA guidelines are consistent with what paleBLUEdot has been incorporating into our Climate Action Plans (CAP) for years. We applaud using the guidelines as incentives for action, and we’re excited that the dozens of communities we’ve worked with to develop CAPs are already positioned to apply and benefit from these programs.