Making Cities Cool Again: Heat Mitigation Strategies in Hazard Mitigation Plans from Six US States

Abstract

More people in the US are killed per year by heat waves than any other weather-related disaster. Extreme heat events (heat waves) are also expected to increase in severity and frequency due to climate change. Because of the urban heat island effect that causes cities to warm faster than surrounding rural areas, urban areas are at greater risk of experiencing devastating heat waves. By modifying the way land is used, cities can reduce the threat of heat waves. There are three primary categories of land use or built environment-related heat wave mitigation strategies: cool materials, greening, and energy efficiency strategies. I analyzed 47 county hazard mitigation plans to determine if local jurisdictions are using these heat wave mitigation strategies. I found that although most hazard mitigation plans include a section focused on heat hazards, few plans include land use or built environment mitigation strategies focused on mitigating heat. Most plans did include land use or built environment mitigation strategies used to mitigate other disasters that could have heat wave reduction co-benefits. Population and region had positive relationships with the comprehensiveness of the heat section. None of the variables I tested had associations with the inclusion of heat-related mitigation strategies or co-benefit mitigation strategies.