Heat waves are among the deadliest weather events, killing thousands of people annually. When the human body exceeds its ability to lose heat, it experiences critical health issues and will ultimately shut down. Severe heat waves are predicted to increase due to climate change, making preparedness and response to heat waves a major public health concern. The issue of excessive heat is a particular issue for California, which experiences a high number of record-breaking heat waves.
Even though 30% of households in California lack access to air conditioning, the power grid has been close to collapsing during multiple heat waves. This disaster plan created for the California Department of Public Health provides guidelines for evaluating and managing heat waves. The plan includes both infrastructural and policy-related guidelines, such as suggestions for environment-conscious and heat-reducing urban design and education campaigns to inform individuals on how they can prevent and reduce symptoms from overheating.