Climate Vulnerabilities
Most Vulnerable Locations and Communities
Southern Nevada Extreme Heat Vulnerability Analysis, led by the RTC and Southern Nevada Strong, identified communities and locations where residents are most vulnerable to extreme heat. While everyone in Clark County is exposed to extreme temperatures, heat is not experienced equally. Low-income people, people with pre-existing health conditions, seniors and youth, and people living in urban heat island communities are especially vulnerable when it gets hot. The study features an interactive map of heat exposure and other variables that residents can use to explore their neighborhoods.
Did You Know...
During extreme heat events, the County opens cooling stations in key locations around the County. These stations provide shelter and water to the public to combat potentially dangerous health impacts of heat waves.
Planning for the Future
Shade Structures to Beat the Heat
While Clark County residents are familiar with hot temperatures, extreme heat events continue to increase in severity and frequency, causing significant stress to people and ecosystems. As temperatures increase, drought conditions are expected to worsen, which has significant implications for water access for people, businesses, and our natural resources. To adapt to the extreme temperatures we will continue to experience, we can take steps to ensure our community members are safe at home, at work, and as they get around. For example, Clark County and transportation partners aim to increase the percent of transit stops with shade structures to 100% by 2040.
2022
Percent of Transit Stops with Shade Structures = 43%
2022
Percent of Transit Stops without Shade Structures = 57%
Leading by Example
Emergency Response Planning
The County is taking steps to assess vulnerabilities in our communities and strategically prepare for emergency situations.
- In 2018, eleven jurisdictions including Clark County came together to assess the region’s vulnerability to a wide range of hazards and identify strategies for mitigation. The resulting Clark County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan was released in 2018. The County then followed up with its own emergency response plan in 2019. You can visit Clark County's website to download the County's Emergency Response plans.
- The Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) is a tool that can tell us where we are most vulnerable to climate impacts and where we need to adapt. Identifying systems that are most vulnerable to certain climate impacts, such as electricity infrastructure to extreme heat or forest habitats to wildfires, helps us prioritize actions that increase our resilience.
Our Roadmap to a Resilient Future
Explore the goals, strategies, and actions in the All-In Community Plan. Use the dropdown table to see the progress we've made towards implementing each action!
| Action | Description | Status |
1.1.A | Protect workers from heat, toxins, and other dangerous work conditions through advocating for and educating about safety standards. | |
1.1.B | Expand Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs. | |
1.1.C | Offer financial assistance for low-income populations and small businesses to install weatherization and cooling measures. | |
1.1.D | Establish a network of Resilience Hubs. |
| Action | Description | Status |
1.2.A | Evaluate effectiveness and accessibility of existing emergency preparedness communications materials. | |
1.2.B | Partner with transportation providers to provide accessible transportation to cooling centers, shelters, and resilience hubs. | |
1.2.C | Establish a neighborhood outreach program to disseminate preparedness kits to residents and small businesses. |
| Action | Description | Status |
2.1.A | Implement design standards to mitigate heat exposure. | |
2.1.B | Integrate mobile crisis intervention and outreach into the “continuum of care.” |
| Action | Description | Status |
3.1.A | Enhance, protect, and maintain drought-tolerant plantings in heat vulnerable neighborhoods. | |
3.1.B | Enhance existing parks and open spaces to increase adaptive capacity in underserved communities. | |
3.1.C | Review and enforce design standards to reduce impacts on natural habitats. |
Are You All-In?
Contribute to a More Resilient Clark County
We can go All-In on resilience by engaging all members of our community in climate change education, emergency preparedness, and collective care. Take advantage of these resources.
