AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE
title
2026 Heat Action Plan for Orange County
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RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT
Mary Jane Nirdlinger, Deputy Town Manager
John Richardson, Community Sustainability Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council receive and approve the attached plan.
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LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT
The Council adopted the Town's first Climate Action and Response Plan in April of 2021. The focus of the climate action plan includes reducing the emissions that cause climate change and adapting to our changing climate. The Heat Action Plan for Orange County serves as a countywide plan for adapting to one of the most significant climate stressors in our area - extreme heat.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
According to the National Weather Service, extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States. Here in Chapel Hill and Orange County, rising summer temperatures pose serious health risks, particularly for residents who are most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses such as outdoor workers, the unhoused, and those living in homes without adequate cooling, insulation, and the means to pay higher energy bills.
The Heat Action Plan for Orange County is a countywide strategy to protect the communities of Orange County from extreme heat. The plan's three action areas are: before heat arrives (preparedness), when it gets hot (response), and beyond the heat season (long-term strategies for building heat resilience). Actions range from public awareness and enhanced emergency response to creating cooler homes and neighborhoods.
On March 17, 2026, the Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the plan. Carrboro and Hillsborough will each consider approving the plan for their respective jurisdictions in April and May.
PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Starting in early 2025, staff from Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough participated as a team within the North Carolina O...
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