May 21, 2026
New toolkit helps communities prepare for heat
Luskin Center for Innovation-led initiative offers practical guidance for local heat resilience planning and action
In March, an unexpected spring heatwave brought record temperatures to much of the western United States, prompting warnings in several states. This followed several summers of unprecedented heat across the country, and one message became clear: we must prepare for hotter days ahead.
But for many decision-makers and planners, this is a daunting task. While many heat-decision-making tools are available, communities often lack practical guidance on how to create heat action plans and, crucially, implement them to address the unique problems they face locally.
Not anymore. The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation-led Center for Heat Resilient Communities has made a significant step toward bridging this gap with a new toolkit that gives communities a step-by-step guide to pinpoint their needs and match them with evidence-based planning activities.
“Building Heat Resilient Communities: A Toolkit for Local Planning, Decision-Making, & Action” features:
- A primer on heat-related topics with definitions of key terms
- Guided activities to collect evidence and engage organizations and community groups in decision-making
- Integrated worksheets to support data organization and interpretation
- Tools to develop customized and locally relevant heat resilience strategies
The toolkit provides information on concepts such as heat exposure and vulnerability; cultural and equity considerations for heat resilience; and how to best involve and collaborate with community members.
We brought together leading researchers, practitioners, advocates, and federal agencies to create resources to help communities engage in more coordinated and effective responses to heat-health risks. This toolkit fills a critical gap for decision-makers who understand the urgency of preparing for a hotter future but need guidance on strategies tailored to their local needs.
The Center for Heat Resilient Communities was a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Integrated Heat Health Information System-funded initiative that brought together a network of more than 50 researchers, practitioners, and US communities to engage in local heat resilience planning. When the grant was suddenly canceled in May 2025, UCLA rushed into action along with co-leads Ladd Keith at the University of Arizona and Sara Meerow at Arizona State University.
“Minutes before we were due to announce participants for the center, we got the notice: no more funding,” said Zach Wampler, a project coordinator for the Luskin Center for Innovation. “But we couldn’t let these community partners down. This toolkit is part of our continued efforts to find ways to empower communities to develop local solutions to a shared problem. Moving forward, we will continue our commitment through a collaboration with the Atlantic Council’s Climate Resilience Center.”
You can access the toolkit here. Learn more about the Luskin Center for Innovation’s research on other heat-related topics, including shade mapping.
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EXPERTS
- V. Kelly Turner, Associate Director
- Ladd Keith, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Planning, University of Arizona
- Sara Meerow, Associate Professor of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University
- Zach Wampler, Project Coordinator
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