Heat Early Warning Systems and Action Plans

Heat early warning and response systems and action plans are interventions that combine weather forecasts with previously-defined temperature thresholds for action with pre-planned response activities in health and other sectors; they are often combined with heat action plans that outline longer-term changes in urban planning and other areas to prepare for a hotter future. Heat early warning systems and action plans typically take several years to implement and are effective at reducing morbidity and mortality in highly vulnerable groups, although they may not reduce mortality in the general population and are unlikely to completely offset the health risks associated with extreme heat events. While cost estimates are rare, heat early warning systems and action plans are considered highly cost effective with few downsides.