SCIPP has sustained a strong relationship with the City of Oklahoma City Office of Sustainability for several years and, more recently, contributed to extreme heat resilience and preparedness efforts in the city. In 2023, we conducted a historical heat analysis for the City’s involvement in the NOAA Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign. In 2024, we presented at and participated in the NOAA/NIHHIS Extreme Heat Tabletop Exercise in Oklahoma City. This exercise allowed us to engage with a variety of city and county officials; health, transportation, and energy entities; and other local organizations on heat resilience resources and strategies.
The culmination of these events and engagements was the Oklahoma City Mayor, David Holt, issuing an official proclamation for Heat Safety Awareness Week for June 1-7, 2026. SCIPP was invited alongside Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) representatives and a planner from the Office of Sustainability to meet with the mayor for this proclamation. In addition, the Office of Sustainability is releasing a major update to their sustainability plan, adaptokc, in which SCIPP provided a summer intern to assist with in 2025. SCIPP’s expertise has, ultimately, contributed to heat awareness, preparedness, and action in Oklahoma City.