City of Evansville, IN | Climate Action Dashboard
© 2026
According to the National Weather Service, the deadliest weather-related event is a heat wave. Evansville is at high risk of experiencing extreme temperature swings, from heat waves to winter storms. The health risks associated are particularly high for residents without reliable heating or cooling. Community cooling and warming centers provide safe, temperature-controlled spaces that reduce weather-related illness, ease strain on household utilities, and protect public health. Expanding access to these centers will strengthen resilience, improve health outcomes, and promote equity by ensuring all residents have a safe place during dangerous temperature extremes.
The city already has a strong foundation. The C.K. Newsome Community Center serves as a year-round cooling site, and Evansville–Vanderburgh Public Library branches offer air-conditioned spaces during regular hours. During severe weather, the city activates emergency cooling and warming centers, often rotating locations, in partnership with the American Red Cross, local churches, and schools. In winter, sites like Lincoln School, Young & Established, and Crossroads Christian Church provide overnight warming. These efforts reflect strong collaboration across community partners.
Enhances equity
Equitable and affordable access to technologies and programs helps residents save money, reach essential services, and cope with climate impacts. Equitable access ensures even the most vulnerable and underserved have the opportunity to be safe, healthy, and resilient to climate impacts.
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Improves public health
Policies, practices, and programs that prevent harmful pollution, promote active, healthy lifestyles, and shelter residents from weather extremes lower the risk of chronic disease and premature death. They also enhance public health and wellness, particularly for residents who are most vulnerable to environmental stressors.
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Increases local resilience
Programs, policies, and practices that improve local energy reliability, infrastructure integrity, food supply, water quality, waste management, and other essential needs will improve our local energy, economic, environmental, and community resilience to climate impacts, particularly for underserved populations and neighborhoods most vulnerable to those impacts.
