This interactive map shows the gap between assessed extreme-heat health risk and how worried residents are about heat across counties in the contiguous United States.
Students can also see a scatter plot of heat risk vs. heat worry that sorts counties into four categories, including danger zones where health risk is high but public worry is low, and lets students explore any county and see where concern and vulnerability align or diverge.
As a class or in smaller groups, discuss whether it is more dangerous to have higher risk or a higher gap in risk-worry.
Search for local counties and interpret assessed risk, estimated worry, and gap category, then write an evidence-based claim about local heat preparedness.
Prompt students to propose targeted outreach for danger-zone counties, connecting data interpretation to real-world risk communication and public health planning.
Interdisciplinary Connections:
Statistics:
Use the tool to discuss how survey data is turned into county-level estimates and the difference between what experts assess and what the public perceives.
Conduct the survey again within the school community and compare how your school's perceptions differ from your county's.
A downloadable dataset is available behind a short registration form, supporting extension projects that analyze the underlying numbers.
Related Resources:
Use this resource about heat waves to introduce students to impacts of climate change on extreme heat.
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication conducts scientific research on public opinion and behavior. They also engage the public in climate change science and solutions, in partnerships with governments, media, companies, and civil society.
Related Teaching Resources
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
