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Lessons learned from supporting local planning for extreme heat in North Carolina
Andrea Webster1, Nicole Goddard1, Allison Whitaker2
1NC Department of Environmental Quality.
Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning
|May 22, 2026
Summary
Local governments are developing heat action plans to address extreme heat impacts. North Carolina agencies provide resources and programs to guide local governments in creating these vital plans for community resilience.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Urban Planning
Background:
- Extreme heat poses systemic risks to human health, infrastructure, energy systems, and public services.
- Local governments are crucial in implementing effective heat adaptation strategies.
- Developing comprehensive heat action plans is essential for community resilience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the collaborative approach of North Carolina State Resilience Office (SRO) and State Climate Office (SCO) in supporting local heat action plan development.
- To examine the resources, program structure, and outcomes of this initiative.
- To understand adaptive strategies employed by these agencies based on lessons learned.
Main Methods:
- Development of planning support resources tailored for local governments.
- Implementation of a guided program to facilitate heat action plan creation.
- Examination of the rationale, composition, and results of the developed resources and program.
Main Results:
- Successful collaboration between state agencies and local governments.
- Creation of practical resources and a structured program for heat action planning.
- Insights into the effectiveness and adaptation of the support initiative.
Conclusions:
- State-level support is effective in empowering local governments to address extreme heat.
- Adaptive program management is key to optimizing heat action planning initiatives.
- The North Carolina model offers a transferable framework for other regions facing heat risks.
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