The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Resilience Office, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the North Carolina State Climate Office, and the National Weather Service, announced on May 5 that they will host a virtual Heat Season Kick-Off Meeting on May 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. The event is open to the public but is aimed at local government staff, especially emergency managers, public health personnel, planners, and administrators.
The upcoming meeting is intended to help communities prepare for extreme heat during the summer months. Organizers say it is important for both local governments and residents to understand health risks related to high temperatures and learn about available resources.
“We all know that it gets extremely hot in North Carolina during the summer, resulting in serious health problems for people of all ages,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “We encourage local governments and the public to participate in our Heat Season Kickoff Meeting May 11 to understand the health risks and identify ways to protect communities from extreme heat.”
NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai said: “We want you have to a safe and healthy summer, but with thousands of heat-related emergency department visits last year, it is critical to be prepared for extreme temperatures to protect yourselves and families. NCDHHS continues to work with state and local partners to inform North Carolinians about health effects from extreme heat and ensure resources are available for people at risk of experiencing heat-related illness.”
In recent years, extreme heat has had significant impacts across North Carolina. In 2025 alone there were more than 5,700 heat-related visits reported at emergency departments statewide. High temperatures have also caused damage to roads and electrical infrastructure as well as affected agriculture. July 2025 was recorded as the second warmest July statewide in over a century while being the hottest ever recorded in Raleigh.
During the May 11 meeting officials will present a forecast for this year’s expected conditions along with information on recognizing signs of heat illness and taking preventative actions. They will also introduce tools such as DEQ’s Planning for Extreme Heat Cohort program—designed to help local governments develop response plans—and demonstrate new technology like the Southeast Heat Monitor by NC State Climate Office.
The NC Department of Health and Human Services will discuss its ongoing efforts including its Heat Health Alert System which notifies subscribers about dangerous conditions throughout summer months. The department also offers weekly regional reports on health impacts from high temperatures as well as training programs for healthcare workers.
