Desert Communities in Mountain West Collaborate to Combat Extreme Heat
Desert communities in the Mountain West, including Las Vegas and Phoenix, are collaborating to address the increasing threat of extreme heat. During a recent Heat Summit in Las Vegas, officials and non-profit leaders discussed strategies to improve their response to extreme heat, which has been exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern. Phoenix has appointed a municipal heat czar, David Hondula, to coordinate efforts to reduce heat-related injuries and deaths. Maricopa County, Arizona, has developed a multi-agency heat relief network to support municipalities and non-profits. In Southern Nevada, the Regional Transportation Commission is leading efforts with a $750,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration to study the impact of extreme heat on transportation infrastructure. This includes analyzing asphalt and pavement mixes and adjusting bus routes to minimize heat exposure for riders. 
