There is an increase in the duration and number of extreme heat waves (KNMI Code Red for heat)

Municipality is heatproof if

• During an extreme heat wave (Code Red) there is as little excess mortality as possible and as few additional hospital admissions as possible.

Measures

• The local Heat Plan includes sufficiently cooled public locations (libraries, shopping centers, government buildings, etc.), which are opened and adapted to accommodate vulnerable residents during an extreme heat wave (Code Red). This is coordinated nationally.
• The local Heat Plan contains agreements with relevant organizations for the organization of the transport of vulnerable people during heat waves to a cool location.
• The local Heat Plan contains agreements on how vulnerable residents staying at home are monitored and, if necessary, supported with cooling measures.

Tips

These measures lead to an appendix to the local heat plan, which is activated if the KNMI announces Code Red for extreme heat. The local heat plan is the framework within which these measures and agreements are developed (see heat effect 1).

The appendix for Code Red concerns three elements: vulnerable people living at home, opening of cooled locations and the role of local public and social organizations.

• Vulnerable people living at home: communication plan for extreme heat
  • The project management of the local heat plan designs a general communication message. The communication plan calls on society to make an extra effort to directly support people vulnerable to heat. The communication plan communicates the positions of local refrigerated shelter locations, contact details of emergency services that can be called in in the event of an emergency.
  • The draft communication plan is discussed with the relevant emergency services (GHOR/GGD, safety region, Red Cross, municipality, etc.) and approved.
  • The communication plan and the agreements made therein are activated when the KNMI announces Code Red for extreme heat.
  • After activating the extreme heat communication plan, the project management organizes a meeting where findings are discussed and the plan is adjusted if necessary.
  • See also Effectiveness of heat measures (in Dutch).
• Cooled locations: action plan for cool locations
  • The project management of the local heat plan organizes an overview of the locations of local cooled public buildings in the municipality.
  • The project management invites owners/managers of these areas to a meeting where the heat problem at Code Red is explained. In addition, it is discussed whether these spaces can be opened and adapted to accommodate people vulnerable to heat during an extreme heat wave. It is also discussed which logistical actions need to be developed to transport vulnerable people to these locations.
  • Based on this meeting, the project management draws up a concept plan for 'cooled locations' and submits it to the parties involved for adjustments and adoption.
  • The action plan is activated if the KNMI announces Code Red for extreme heat. Please coordinate with the KNMI in advance about what this means for your municipality.
  • After activating the Action Plan for Cool Locations, the project management organizes a meeting where findings are discussed and the plan is adjusted if necessary.
• Civil society organizations and emergency services: action plan for extreme heat
  • The local heat plan project management organizes a meeting with social organizations and emergency services about the additional measures to the local heat plan that are necessary for Code Red for extreme heat. These concern any adjustments to your own efforts and additional efforts due to the opening of cool locations (see process step 2.2.) and additional efforts for vulnerable people who cannot or do not want to be transported.
  • Based on this meeting, the project management will draw up a draft extreme heat action plan and submit it to the parties involved for adjustment and adoption.
  • The action plan is activated when the KNMI declares Code Red.
  • After activating the Code Red action plan, the project management organizes a meeting where findings are discussed and the plan is adjusted if necessary

This animation ('Unprecedentedly Hot') gives an idea of the risks that can occur during an extreme heat wave.