A Grant To Build Heat Resilience in Roanoke City 

Heat resilience is the capacity for communities to adapt to and cope with higher temperatures and heat waves. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $316,777 grant for the project Building Heat Resilience in Southwestern Virginia Through Education. 

The project team, which we will lead in partnership with Virginia Tech (VT), Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action (VCCA) and the City of Roanoke, will focus on educating our communities about the risk factors and effects of climate change and heat on health, while planning for ways to make our communities more adaptable to higher temperatures. It will also inform residents residents about actions they can take to reduce their risk.  

“We’re aware of the adverse health affects of climate change and feel a responsibility to inform the public, patients and policymakers about them,” says Sara Wohlford, director of Sustainability. 

According to NOAA, of all weather-related disasters, heat waves cause the most deaths every year in the United States. Heat exposure and health risks are closely linked to the built environments of cities that lack trees, greenspaces and air conditioning; these kinds of environmental factors can lead to exposure to dangerous temperatures throughout a hot day, leading to heat cramps, exhaustion or heat stroke—a life-threatening emergency. 

“By aligning with the work of our partners, our clinicians will be able to educate our patients and communities about the health dangers posed by increasing temperatures and turn concerns into practical solutions that can be implemented in our communities,” adds Sara. 

Over the next two years, the project will bring together urban planners, local government, health care professionals and residents to: 

• Understand the problem of extreme heat 
• Work together to connect existing resources 
• Co-produce approaches to increase community resilience to extreme heat 

This project is one of nine selected to be funded nationally by NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Program to help communities develop the education programs needed to build resilience to extreme weather and climate change.

“I am incredibly excited about the work that will happen through this grant,” adds Sara. “Our partners from VT and the City of Roanoke will use their expertise to tackle land-use planning, urban design, urban greening and waste heat reduction, while we from Carilion and VCCA will bring our expertise to help tackle heat management strategies such as indoor cooling, reducing individual exposure and public information campaigns.” 

Updates and information about upcoming events will be shared as the project develops. 

For more information, contact Sara Wohlford, Sustainability, at sewohlford@carilionclinic.org or 540-529-4934.