Chief heat officers want to help cities adapt to scorching heatwaves
This weekend, more than half of people in the US will be under severe weather alerts as a heat wave battering the south expands into large parts of the central and eastern US.
It will be a busy time for the country's three chief heat officers, who experts say they are quickly becoming key figures on the frontline of climate change.
"I've been on the phone and sending more text messages than I can remember in my life," says Phoenix chief heat officer David Hondula.
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As heat seasons have intensified, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Miami have all appointed chief heat officers. Experts say it's an important first step, but warn that local governments face an uphill struggle.
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'Silent killer'
Extreme heat has been referred to as a silent killer because it claims thousands of lives each year, though the immediate dangers it poses are not always immediately visible to the public.
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'Extreme solutions'
As well as the emergency response to record-high temperatures, heat officers also work on the long-term planning needed to prepare cities for a hotter future.
In Miami, where residents experienced their second-ever heat warning in history last week, Ms Gilbert's team is training staff and summer camp providers to respond to heat emergencies, while hiring volunteers to distribute heat toolkits with items like cooling towels and electrolyte packets.
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