Cities worldwide are running heat-wave emergency drills to prepare for increasingly severe heat events. These tabletop exercises and simulations expose operational gaps in heat response systems before actual crises occur.
The exercises typically involve city officials, health agencies, utilities, and emergency responders working through scenarios of extreme heat. Participants identify communication breakdowns, resource shortages, and coordination failures that could cost lives during real events.
Heat kills more Americans than any other weather phenomenon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that extreme heat caused over 2,300 deaths annually in the U.S. between 2004 and 2018. Yet heat receives less emergency planning attention than hurricanes or earthquakes in many jurisdictions.
These drills address concrete problems. During actual heat waves, emergency call centers become overwhelmed. Cooling centers lack capacity. Power grids fail. Vulnerable populations—elderly people, those experiencing homelessness, low-income households—face disproportionate risk because they lack air conditioning or reliable transportation to safe spaces.
Phoenix, Las Vegas, and other Southwest cities have conducted extensive heat preparedness exercises. European cities including Paris and Madrid implemented similar protocols after deadly heat waves in 2022 and 2023. These rehearsals have identified the need for pre-positioned supplies, expanded cooling centers, and dedicated transportation for at-risk populations.
The drills also highlight funding gaps. Many cities lack resources to maintain emergency cooling infrastructure year-round or to conduct public awareness campaigns about heat danger signs.
Climate scientists project heat waves will intensify in frequency, duration, and temperature across most regions. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that even with emissions reductions, severe heat events will increase substantially through mid-century.
Whether these rehearsals translate to lives saved remains uncertain. Some cities report implementing recommendations from drills. Others struggle with budget constraints. The effectiveness ultimately depends on