The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS)

Extreme heat, whether in the form of rising long-term average temperatures or punctuated by heat waves, is a global health threat. In the US, it is already deadlier than all other natural disasters combined, and it will clearly be exacerbated by a changing climate. The NIHHIS is being developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and domestic and international partners to understand this problem, develop a robust and science-informed response, and build capacity and communication networks to improve resilience.

NIHHIS helps prepare the U.S. for climate and weather extremes

Extreme weather or climate events such as heat waves, hurricanes, or floods can profoundly affect society and the environment, resulting in loss of life, productivity, property, and natural habitat. From 1979-2003, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the U.S. according to the CDC.  During that period, more people died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.

Building on sustained collaboration between public health and weather and climate communities over the past several years NOAA is defining the demand for and capacity to use heat forecasts and related vulnerability and adaptation information. NOAA, led by CPO and in partnership with the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control, is working to build a National Integrated Heat Health Information System to catalyze and connect the demand for, and foundational scientific understanding that underpins, climate services that build resilience to extreme heat.

This system will provide more advanced warnings and decision support services to help the public better prepare for, and respond to, extreme heat. This effort will identify and harmonize existing capabilities and define and deliver the research, observations, prediction, and vulnerability information and operational decision-support services needed to reduce health-related risk long before, during, and leading up to heat waves.

Heat information systems can be effective tools for reducing illness, death, and loss of productivity associated with heat waves. 

A White House Initiative

As part of the nation's efforts to protect communities from the health impacts of climate change, in June 2015 President Barack Obama announced an initiative [fact sheet] to create a National Integrated Heat Health Information System. Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are working to provide a suite of decision-support services that better serve public health needs to prepare and respond.  This effort will identify and harmonize existing capabilities and define and deliver the research, observations, prediction, vulnerability assessments, and other information needed to support heat health preparedness.