Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Heat and Health Index (HHI)
| Details | Heat and Health Index |
|---|---|
| Topics | historical heat and health burden module, sensitivity module, sociodemographic module, natural and built environment module |
| Source | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), & Office of Climate Change and Health Equity |
| Years Available | 2024 |
| Geographies | ZCTA |
| Public Edition or Subscriber-only | Public Edition |
| Download Available | yes |
| For more information | https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/heatTracker/ |
| Last updated on PolicyMap | November 2024 |
Description:
The Heat and Health Index (HHI) helps identify communities where people are most likely to feel the effects of heat on their health, in order to build towards a healthier and more heat-resilient future for all. The (HHI) is a national tool that incorporates historical temperature, heat-related illness, and community characteristics data at the ZIP code or ZCTA level to identify areas most likely to experience negative health outcomes from heat and help communities prepare for heat in a changing climate. Each ZCTA has a single ranking for the overall HHI and rankings for individual components so that users can make informed decisions to prepare for and prevent the negative health impacts from heat in their communities.
The HHI consists of 25 data indicators of heat and health vulnerability to help communities prepare for warming temperatures in a changing climate. These indicators are grouped into 4 modules.
- The Historical Heat and Health Burden module captures measures of previous experience with heat at the local level (ZCTA or ZIP code).
- The Sensitivity module is comprised of pre-existing health conditions that may increase risk of negative health outcomes when the individual with the condition is exposed to extreme heat.
- The Sociodemographic module encompasses social and demographic characteristics that increase exposure or sensitivity to heat or lessen one”s ability to cope with extreme heat.
- The Natural and Built Environment module focuses on characteristics of the natural and built environment that increase exposure or sensitivity to heat or lessen one”s ability to cope with extreme heat.
Data in the HHI come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS), the United States Census Bureau, the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).