Document Type
Poster Session
Publication Date
2024
Abstract
In 2023, Hillsborough County faced a particularly hot summer. Maximum daily heat indices in Tampa reached at least 100°F for 90 days, 55 of which had heat indices of at least 105°F, and 26 of which had heat indices of at least 108°F.
Hillsborough County is home to over 1.5 million residents, and it is composed of various types of communities. While the entire county faces excessive heat, some populations within the county are more at-risk of heat-related complications than others. Physically vulnerable populations include older adults, young children, pregnant females, and people with asthma or other disabilities that make them sensitive to heat. In addition, due to social circumstances, many residents are exposed to the outdoors more frequently.
Within Hillsborough County, two particular geographic regions have dedicated resources to building resilience to climate hazards:
- Census Tract 121.03, a FEMA-Designated Community Disaster Resilience Zone (CDRZ)
- The City of Tampa Municipal Zone
This study examines factors from different social vulnerability indices for all census tracts within Hillsborough County. It aims to identify areas where populations are most at-risk of excessive heat and provides strategies for mitigating its effects.
Scholar Commons Citation
Burchell, Paige; Ersing, Robin; and Ward, Beverly, "Mitigating the Effects of Excessive Heat in Hillsborough County's Vulnerable Neighborhoods" (2024). Weather, Climate, and Society REU. 4.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/weather-climate-society_reu/4
