Building Emergency Management Capacity for Heat Resilience: NOAA's Collaborative Approach

In response to record-breaking heat events around the world that claim hundreds of lives each year, governments are seeking effective solutions to reduce heat-related risk. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with state and local governments, has supported more than 18 extreme heat tabletop exercises designed to strengthen community preparedness and resilience.

These exercises are unique in their focus on extreme heat, their co-design with community-based organizations, and their ability to connect short-term preparedness actions with long-term resilience planning.

In this session, Katie Edmondson, Emergency Preparedness Program Manager for NOAA's Office of Emergency Management, will discuss the development and implementation of these innovative exercises and how they have been used to stress-test local heat action plans and enhance community readiness. Attendees will learn about best practices, key lessons learned, and practical considerations for implementing similar exercises within their own communities.