Heat Action Plan Development

Why We Need a Heat Plan

New Orleans is getting hotter every year. Some neighborhoods feel the heat more than others. In recent summers, we had record temperatures, more heat emergencies, and higher risks for seniors, children, and people who work outside.

Led by the Office of Resilience and Sustainability (ORS), in partnership with the New Orleans Health Department and Hazard Mitigation Office,  the City is creating a Heat Mitigation Plan to help protect our city. This plan will show where heat is the worst, who is most affected, and what we can do to keep people safe.

What the Plan Will Do

The Heat Action Plan will:

• Show where the hottest areas are in New Orleans

• Explain how extreme heat affects our health, homes, and streets

• Recommend steps the City can take to cool neighborhoods

• Lift up community voices

• Help guide future funding and projects

How We Are Building the Plan

The plan has five main tasks. Each task creates a deliverable. Once each one is ready, we will post the final version on this webpage.

We expect the full Heat Action Plan to be finished by mid-2026.

Task 1: Collecting Data and Maps

Goal: Understand where heat happens and why.

• Existing Studies Review
  A short summary of what we already know about heat in New Orleans and other cities.

• Data Gap Summary
  A report showing what information is missing and what data we still need.

• Heat Maps and GIS Database
  Maps that show which areas are hottest and where people are most at risk.

Task 1 Deliverables

• Existing Studies Review on Extreme Heat
• Extreme Heat Data Gap Analysis

Task 2: Defining the Problem

Goal: Explain what extreme heat looks like in New Orleans.

• Urban Heat Story
  A simple explanation of why some neighborhoods get hotter than others.

• Impact Maps and Summaries
  Maps and charts showing how heat affects people today and in the future.

• Success Indicators
  A list of signs we will use to measure if heat risks are going down over time.

Task 2 Deliverables

• Shared Definitions Narrative

Task 3: Reviewing City Plans

Goal: Make sure this heat plan fits with other City plans.

• Plan Summaries
  Short summaries of other City plans that already talk about heat or climate.

• Current Heat Actions
  A list of what the City is already doing, like planting trees or improving cooling spaces.

• Policies and Laws
  A simple summary of rules that help or limit how the City can reduce heat.

Task 3 Deliverables

• Deliverables underway, check back for updates later

Task 4: Listening to the Community

Goal: Make sure community voices guide the plan.

• Community Engagement Plan
  A guide that explains who we will talk to and how.

• Workshop Materials and Notes
  Information from community meetings, focus groups, and interviews.

• Community Priorities Report
  A report that shows what residents say they need and where they feel the most heat.

Task 4 Deliverables

• Extreme Heat Community Engagement Plan

Task 5: Creating Recommendations

Goal: Turn ideas into real steps the City can take.

• Best Practices and Framework
  A guide explaining what solutions work best in other places and how we can use them here.

• Monitoring Guidelines
  Simple steps to help us keep track of heat risks over time.

• Draft and Final Heat Plan
  The main strategy with a list of top actions to cool our city.

• Education Materials
  Easy-to-read handouts and web content to help everyone understand the plan.

Task 5 Deliverables

• Task not yet started, check back for updates later

Stay Involved

We want to hear from you. As the plan moves forward, we will share:

• Community meetings

• Maps and draft findings

• Ways to give feedback

• Final reports and resources

Your ideas and experience will help shape a cooler, safer New Orleans.