Mayor, Local Officials Outline New Heat Response Plan

Published on May 08, 2025

National Weather Service alerts will prompt coordinated community action

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) Director Kerry Kernen today said a new Heat Response Plan is designed to improve coordination among community partners and ensures residents will have timely, equitable access to cooling and health resources. See the plan at lincoln.ne.gov/Heat.

“This new plan will help our community beat the heat,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said. “Through this strengthened coordination between City, County, and community partners, we can offer our residents timely access to cooling and health resources during extreme heat.”

The plan outlines recommended responses based on the three different heat alerts issued by the National Weather Service: 

  • Heat Advisory – The heat index is expected to be 105-degrees or higher.
  • Extreme Heat Watch – Extreme heat is possible in the next one to three days: During an advisory or watch, the Health Department will send a heat brief to partners to prompt them to take steps outlined in the plan and share heat safety messages with clients, community members and staff.

All Lincoln City Libraries and Parks and Recreation Community Centers will be available as cooling centers during regular business hours. Aging Partners Senior Centers will also be available. For senior center locations and hours, visit lincoln.ne.gov/AgingPartners or call 402-441-7070.

  • Extreme Heat Warning – The heat index is expected to be at least 110 degrees or remain at 105 degrees or higher for four or more days: During a warning, the Health Department will send a heat brief to partners.

Extended hours of operation will be activated at four cooling centers. Three cooling centers will remain open until 8 p.m. daily, including weekends: Anderson Branch Library, 3635 Touzalin Ave.; Bennett Martin Library, 136 S. 14th St.; and the “F” Street Community Center, 1225 “F” St. The Aging Partners location at Victory Park, 600 S. 70th St. will remain open until 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Cooling centers and other designated sites will provide a limited number of heat relief kits, which include water bottles, sunscreen, electrolyte packets, and safety tips.

Additional resources created for the plan include:

  • Heat safety website: Information and resources in multiple languages that help residents stay cool will be available at lincoln.ne.gov/Heat.
  • Heat briefs: Alerts from the National Weather Service will be shared with partners to prompt implementation of steps identified in the plan and share heat safety messages with staff, clients, and community members. 

Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird and Director Kernen at the news conference were:

  • Randy Jones, Aging Partners Director
  • Jamie Pospisil, Lincoln Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief
  • Tom Randa, Good Neighbor Community Center Executive Director and Cultural Centers of Lincoln Collaborative Board Member

From 2014 to 2023, the number of heat-related illnesses treated in emergency rooms doubled, Kernen said. To prepare for projected increases in average temperatures and extreme heat events, LLCHD collaborated with wide range of partners including the National Weather Service, cultural centers, utility providers, health systems, and community organizations to create a consistent framework of clearly defined terms, thresholds, and responses. Work on the plan is ongoing, she said.

“The Heat Response Plan is designed to help the community prepare for and respond to extreme heat events and help residents stay safe as temperatures rise,” Kernen said. “We are continually engaging additional partners. We will review and make updates to the plan as needed after each heat season so that it’s as comprehensive and effective as possible to help ensure the health and safety of our residents.”

Randa said the heat response plan is especially important to vulnerable groups such as new community members. During heat advisories and warnings, facilities such as Good Neighbor Community Center, the Indian Center, Malone Center, Asian Community and Cultural Center, and El Centro de las Américas will open daytime cooling spaces, conduct bilingual heat safety workshops, provide transportation to cooling sites, and more, he said.

“Preparation matters because extreme heat does not strike evenly. Seniors on fixed incomes, newly arrived families adjusting to an unfamiliar climate, and households without reliable air conditioning bear the heaviest burden. Today’s launch says loudly and plainly that Lincoln is serious about protecting all our neighbors,” Randa said.

Pospisil urged community members to use the City’s extreme heat website to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness so they know when it is appropriate to call emergency services.

“Prompt recognition and response saves lives, as mortality rates from severe heat related illness can be reduced by more than 20 percent with timely treatment,” Pospisil said. “The citizens of Lincoln are fortunate to live in a community committed to the prevention and response to heat related emergencies. Extreme heat can create a hazardous environment for everyone.”

Jones said older community members are particularly vulnerable to heat emergencies.

“If you have a family member or neighbor or an acquaintance who is an older person, we encourage you to check on them during these emergencies to reinforce that they are remaining cool and taking preventive actions,” Jones said.

Jones reminded residents that Aging Partners provides new fans for those age 60 and older. Appointments to pick up a fan can be made by calling 402-441-7030.

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