Silver State Times

Nevada has been facing extreme heat of late, and the State recently collaborated with local and federal partners for a new central resource that can be accessed through the internet for assistance.

This effort is part of Gov. Steve Sisolak’s Statewide Heat Plan that was implemented after this year’s State of the State Address, a press release from the governor’s office said. A heat planning team has met with federal, State and local officials to work on how to assist the communities during what are some of the state’s hottest days on record.

“The excessive heat we’re feeling is unprecedented – our summers are becoming hotter, drier and longer every year due to climate change,” Sisolak said in the release. “Now more than ever, we must come together to tackle the climate crisis and ensure we have the resources to protect Nevadans.”

The new resource is part of the governor’s Nevada Climate Initiative for Nevadans through the National Weather Service, the release said. It is a repository that will be used to find information about the extreme heat. Partners involved include the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Southern Nevada Health District, the Washoe County Health District, NV Energy, Clark County, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, various state agencies and others. 

“We have so many people working in the State who play a role in ensuring Nevadans stay safe during extreme heat,” Dr. Kristen Averyt, senior climate advisor to the governor, said in the release. “By collaborating and working together, we can provide greater protection for those in need.”

Ken Graham, director of the NOAA National Weather Service, advised people to take advantage of available resources and heed weather notices. 

“The National Weather Service tracks summer heat day and night to make sure Nevadans and all Americans have advanced warning to prepare for and respond to dangerous heat conditions,” he said in the release. “Weather.gov is an excellent resource for weather predictions, critical heat alerts, as well as other heat safety information to ensure that everybody knows when dangerous heat is on the way and what to do to be ready for it.”

Those in the community, as well as partners, are asked to contribute any additional information for the resource by visiting climateaction.nv.gov/contact.