WCID: It's getting hot in herrre

Happy Hump Day, Shit Givers.

Wow, that’s fun. I can see why Willow opens her emails that way. 

My name is Lauren and I’m a researcher with Important, Not Important. I’ve spent the last few weeks exploring how communities can better prepare for extreme heat. The issue is more timely than ever, as Europe is in the midst of a deadly heat wave and a “heat dome” threatens triple-digit temperatures through the holiday weekend in the United States.

Heat has been in the news a lot, and you can expect to hear more about it each year as temperatures rise due to climate change. This type of heat carries serious health risks, especially for older adults, young children, outdoor workers and people with preexisting health conditions.

Heat illness and death are preventable. For example, the city of Phoenix has issued an annual Heat Response Plan since 2022. Preliminary 2025 data suggests a 30% drop in heat-related deaths in Maricopa County from the year prior, the second consecutive year of decline after a decade of climbing death rates. 

The plans we make now can help keep people safe and healthy for years to come. 
— Lauren

Better heat planning can help us in the future, but heat-associated illness is a problem right now, too. Learn who’s at risk and how to stay safe.

HeatRisk — This new National Weather Service tool predicts when heat-related illness is more likely in your area based on typical local conditions and CDC data (go).

Learn how your community is already preparing for rising heat and get inspired by policy solutions from the United States and beyond.

Heat Plan Database — Dive into a database of local, state and national heat policy compiled by Cornell University researchers (go).

Adaptation Clearinghouse — Explore heat plans and other climate adaptation programs from around the country, courtesy of the Georgetown Climate Center (go).

US Climate Resilience Toolkit — View case studies from other communities bracing for the effects of climate change, including extreme heat (go).

Global Heat Health Information Network — Get an international perspective on heat preparedness (go).

Copy (Don’t let a heat wave catch your community off guard. A proactive approach to heat preparedness can save lives.

🚨 NEW: Health-based heat alerts — Not all heat is created equal. Use our NEW 2-minute script to tell your local lawmakers to issue warnings based on when heat-related illness is most likely in your community (go).

Heat Action Platform — Direct your local leaders to heat planning guidance from the Center for Climate Resilience (go).

Many state prisons lack air conditioning, leaving inmates especially vulnerable to heat illness.

85 to Stay Alive Coalition — Sign the petition for safer temperatures in prisons nationwide (go).

If you live in California, two proposed laws would prepare public facilities for extreme temperatures. Both bills passed the state Assembly, and now it’s the Senate’s turn to act.

Make CA prisons climate resilient — Tell your state Senator to support AB-2499 (go).

Make CA schools climate resilient — Tell your state Senator to support AB-1822 (go).

Willow will return for the next What Can I Do? Weekly. In the meantime, take care of yourself and your loved ones, and thank you — as always — for giving a shit.

— Lauren