Extreme Heat Toolkit for Tribes

The California Area Division of Environmental Health Services has developed an Extreme Heat Toolkit which can be used by Tribes to prepare for an extreme heat event in their area. An extreme heat event occurs when the National Weather Service issues an Excessive Heat Warning for a given area. These types of events are responsible for more lives lost than any other extreme weather event.

The Toolkit may be used in its entirety or feel free to use any portion to aid in preparing your community for an extreme heat event.  The tools contained in the toolkit follow.

• Guideline for opening a Cooling Center on the Reservation (MSWord)
• Public Messaging Templates (ZIP) a collection of graphics and flyers from various agencies to be used to communicate the health and safety hazards of an extreme heat event.
• Extreme Heat Communication Plan (MSWord) a template for use in planning how a Tribe will communicate internally, with key partners and community members before and during an extreme heat event.
• Extreme Heat Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (MS Excel): A spreadsheet consisting of worksheets to be used in identifying the hazards presented to a Tribal community by an extreme heat event, identifying strategies to reduce these hazards and prioritizing the strategies based on tribal needs and resources.
• Extreme Heat Response Plan Template (MSWord): A template for use in developing a plan to organize a Tribal response to an extreme heat event in your community.
• Developing a Tribal Extreme Heat Response Plan Presentation (PPT):  a PowerPoint presentation that walks through the toolkit and the process for developing an extreme heat response plan tailored for your community.

To obtain a zip file of the toolkit, contact your local environmental health specialist in the California Area.  Contact information is available at this link.