A Heat Vulnerability Index, developed by NASA and Groundwork USA, is a watershed indicator in the report card. This index includes four metrics: tree canopy, impervious surface, land surface temperature, and households in poverty. The index identifies places where there is greater vulnerability of people to heat-related and flooding-related risks, which are often in neighborhoods with race-based housing discrimination. Other groups at risk are communities of color, low-income communities, children, and the elderly. This index can help managers prioritize locations for restoration projects such as tree plantings and conversion of abandoned impervious surfaces to green space.
How is it scored?
The Heat Vulnerability Index is an indicator of climate-safe neighborhoods that includes metrics for tree canopy, impervious surface, land surface temperature, and households in poverty. Data is at the Census Block level. Data are from 2018.