HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 05-20-25; 8-e - Heat Awareness Week Proclamation 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 20, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-e
SUBJECT: Heat Awareness Week Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services and
County Manager
(Sustainability)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Hannah Tuckman, Emergency
Management Planner, (919) 245-6138
Mel Gilles, Sustainability Projects Analyst,
(919) 245-2626
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation declaring May 25-31, 2025, as "Heat Awareness Week"
in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: Extreme heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the United
States and kills more people in most years than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined.
Extreme heat poses a threat to human health in Orange County, especially to residents who are
at increased risk for heat related illnesses, people who work outdoors, the unhoused population
and those who live in homes without adequate air conditioning or insulation or who cannot afford
high electricity bills during heat waves. Recent and projected rising summer temperatures, along
with misconceptions about heat risk, make educating the public about extreme heat even more
urgent.
The number of days and nights surpassing dangerously high temperatures each year is increasing
in the community. Historically, Orange County experienced temperatures of 95 degrees
Fahrenheit eight (8) days per year, on average. In 2024, the world's hottest year on record,
Orange County experienced twelve (12) days above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. By the 2060s, the
community will likely experience between 28 to 41 days above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The
community can also expect more days above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and more nights above 70
degrees Fahrenheit. Nights that stay warm make it hard for individuals' bodies to relax and recover
from the heat during the day, making health problems worse.
Former Governor Roy Cooper has previously proclaimea North Carolina Heat Awareness Week
during the last week of May 2024 to raise awareness of the state's continued climate warming
trend and highlight newly available State resources to support local communities in their efforts to
reduce impacts of extreme heat.
The Heat Awareness Week Proclamation encourages community residents to prepare in advance
for high summer temperatures and the significant health risks residents and workers experience
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during hot weather. It will also kick off the Orange County Beat the Heat campaign, a four-month
series of heat-related social media posts to educate the public about the impacts of extreme heat.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this consideration of this
proclamation.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION
OBJECTIVE 3. Improve educational opportunities for County staff and community
members on climate action and available resources to advance climate action projects.
• GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 6. Provide sustainable, equitable, and high-quality community safety and
emergency services to meet the community's evolving needs.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the proclamation.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
HEAT AWARENESS WEEK
May 25-31, 2025
WHEREAS, extreme heat is known to significantly impact health through heat-related
illness or death and worsening of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and
cerebrovascular disease; and
WHEREAS, heat season starts in Orange County in June and the greatest health risks
occur in the first weeks of the heat season as people's bodies adjust to the heat; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, the National Weather Service issued twelve (12) Heat Advisories
and one (1) Excessive Heat Warning in Orange County; and
WHEREAS, climate change is responsible for more frequent and severe heat waves and
this warming trend is expected to continue; and
WHEREAS, between 1983 and 2014, on average, Orange County experienced
temperatures greater than 95 degrees on eight (8) days per year and by the 2060s,
Orange County will likely experience these high temperatures on 28-41 days per year;
and
WHEREAS, Orange County and other North Carolina communities, both urban and rural,
now have more nights with temperatures that do not go below 70 degrees, and the risk
of heat-related illness and death increases when temperatures stay high overnight; and
WHEREAS, heat-related illnesses can affect anyone, regardless of age or physical
condition, disproportionately affecting infants and children, pregnant women, older adults,
outdoor workers, athletes, low-income individuals who are more likely to live in locations
without easy access to air conditioning, and people with underlying health conditions; and
WHEREAS, summer temperatures in urban heat islands in Orange County can be up to
eleven (11) degrees warmer than surrounding areas and these urban heat islands are
located in low income, communities of color that have fewer trees and more pavement;
and
WHEREAS, heat-related illnesses are preventable, and monitoring and minimizing the
health risks associated with heat is a shared responsibility; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina has recognized heat as an important threat to the
health and well-being of residents and has collaborated with scientists, health experts,
and community leaders to develop heat resilience resources; and
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WHEREAS, Orange County has partnered with the Towns of Chapel Hill, Hillsborough
and Carrboro to draft a Heat Action Plan to build local resilience to the health impacts of
extreme heat and other climate hazards;
NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby
proclaim May 25 — May 31, 2025, as "HEAT AWARENESS WEEK" in Orange County,
and commend its observance to all people;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
encourages community members to sign up for OC Alerts and monitor both
orangecountync.gov/heat and facebook.com/orangecountyncgov for heat advisories and
excessive heat warnings; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners urges
the community to take simple steps to stay safe during heat waves, such as reducing time
outside, visiting cooling centers if you do not have access to air conditioning in your home,
and staying hydrated to help reduce heat stress and improve the health of our community.
This the 20t" Day of May, 2025.
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners