Chicago, IL Improves Heat Event Preparedness

Graphic of projected urban heat island exacerbated by climate change. — Graphic of projected urban heat island exacerbated by changes in environmental conditions.

In 1995, Chicago experienced a heatwave event that led to the deaths of several hundred people over the course of five days. This event prompted the city to strengthen and update its heat emergency response system.

With supporting data from the Chicago Climate Impacts Report, city officials recognized the dangerous public impacts that an increase in heatwaves could have on the city. Therefore, the city of Chicago adopted a comprehensive set of actions to reduce deaths from heat events.

Chicago’s approach focuses on community preparedness with particular attention to vulnerable populations. Since effective public outreach is a time and resource intensive process, Chicago worked with the Field Museum, a world-renowned museum and a leader in science education and engagement, to develop an outreach program that targeted neighborhoods vulnerable to heatwave impacts.

This partnership engaged the local community to increase awareness of neighborhood vulnerability. In addition, it helped to identify how residents could reduce the impacts of heatwaves. This outreach effort has worked to complement traditional disaster response actions that Chicago promoted after the 1995 heatwave.

Chicago Climate Impacts Report (PDF)(22 pp, 2.5 MB, About PDF)

How did they do it?	Applicable EPA Tools
Identified current disaster response needs for heatwave resiliency. Chicago adopted disaster responses including: Expanding Notify Chicago, the city’s text and email emergency notification system. Identified or established cooling centers (such as public libraries). Set up a call “311” program to have officials conduct well-being checks for those who may need additional assistance during events such as the elderly or those living with physical disabilities. Conducted disaster preparedness and response trainings.	EPA’s Excessive Heat Events Guidebook can help identify current and future disaster response needs for heatwave preparedness strategies. Excessive Heat Events Guidebook
Assessed citywide vulnerability to future heatwave events. The city assessed future vulnerability using an "analog city analysis". USGCRP's Climate Change, Heat Waves, and Mortality Projections for Chicago Chicago identified the most vulnerable residents in their community (e.g., elderly, young) in order to best target heat outreach efforts.	CDC’s Heat & Health Tracker Tool can help identify the areas and communities most at risk and how to adopt preparedness strategies that target heat event vulnerabilities. CDC's Heat & Health Tracker* * (This is a non-EPA resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
Adopted adaptation strategies that targets heat event vulnerabilities and support vulnerable populations. Partnered with the Chicago Field Museum to conduct tailored outreach to at-risk communities and neighborhoods to increase understanding of current and expected future changes. Relating future climate norms to a previous heatwave event (in this case, the 1995 heatwave) helped the hazards and risks resonate with the residents. Chicago identified urban heat island areas that would be worsened by shifts in the number of days over 90 degrees. This information was used to target green infrastructure and heat island mitigation efforts.	EPA’s Urban Heat Island Strategies identifies strategies for adapting to future extreme heat events by reducing the urban heat island effect. Heat Island Effect

How did they do it?

Applicable EPA Tools

Identified current disaster response needs for heatwave resiliency.

Chicago adopted disaster responses including:
- Expanding Notify Chicago, the city’s text and email emergency notification system.
- Identified or established cooling centers (such as public libraries).
- Set up a call “311” program to have officials conduct well-being checks for those who may need additional assistance during events such as the elderly or those living with physical disabilities.
- Conducted disaster preparedness and response trainings.

EPA’s Excessive Heat Events Guidebook can help identify current and future disaster response needs for heatwave preparedness strategies.

Excessive Heat Events Guidebook

Assessed citywide vulnerability to future heatwave events.

The city assessed future vulnerability using an "analog city analysis".
- USGCRP's Climate Change, Heat Waves, and Mortality Projections for Chicago
Chicago identified the most vulnerable residents in their community (e.g., elderly, young) in order to best target heat outreach efforts.

CDC’s Heat & Health Tracker Tool can help identify the areas and communities most at risk and how to adopt preparedness strategies that target heat event vulnerabilities.

CDC's Heat & Health Tracker*

* (This is a non-EPA resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

Adopted adaptation strategies that targets heat event vulnerabilities and support vulnerable populations.

Partnered with the Chicago Field Museum to conduct tailored outreach to at-risk communities and neighborhoods to increase understanding of current and expected future changes.
Relating future climate norms to a previous heatwave event (in this case, the 1995 heatwave) helped the hazards and risks resonate with the residents.
Chicago identified urban heat island areas that would be worsened by shifts in the number of days over 90 degrees. This information was used to target green infrastructure and heat island mitigation efforts.

EPA’s Urban Heat Island Strategies identifies strategies for adapting to future extreme heat events by reducing the urban heat island effect.

Heat Island Effect

Similar Cases and More Information

Heat events and natural disasters can disproportionately impact at-risk or vulnerable communities. For more information on heat events, see EPA's Extreme Heat website.

To see how Chicago has used green infrastructure to both reduce the impact of future heat events, as well as reduce stormwater runoff during heavy precipitation events, view Chicago, IL Uses Green Infrastructure to Reduce Heat Impacts.

For another case on how a large municipality has adapted to prepare for heat events, view NYC Heat Preparedness.

References

The following links exit the site

Climate Change and Chicago: Projections and Potential Impacts (PDF) (22 pp, 2.5 MB)
City of Chicago Sustainable Development: Sustainability Section
Chicago Climate Action Plan (PDF) (60 pp, 11 MB)
Climate Change and Health Impacts in Chicago (PDF) (32 pp, 614 K)
Engaging Chicago’s Diverse Communities in the Chicago Climate Action Plan (PDF) (35 pp, 14 MB)

Chicago, IL Improves Heat Event Preparedness

How did they do it?

Applicable EPA Tools

Similar Cases and More Information

References

Climate Change Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X)