Memphis, TN
The Memphis team and volunteers pose for a photo with virtual participants in Heat Watch training.
As a Southern port city along the Mississippi River, the experience of heat in Memphis can vary widely based on proximity to the river, nearby greenspaces, and residents’ ability to escape the crushing summer humidity. A recent study identified a nearly twenty-year life expectancy difference among residents living in different neighborhoods within the city.
The Memphis Heat Watch campaign sought to learn more about how heat may play a role in this dramatic difference in life expectancy by bring together a diverse coalition of partners, including a community-focused nonprofit (The Works, Inc.), representatives from the City of Memphis and Shelby County, as well as faculty and students from the University of Memphis who focus on city and regional planning. Together, this team conducted an ambitious campaign to develop a heat map for the sprawling city of Memphis. CAPA Strategies, the technical implementation partner for CCHM, analyzed the data and prepared the final report, which is available here and here.