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Texas' Largest Heat-Mapping Campaign Will Determine Where Harris County's Extreme Hot Spots Are

Summary

On August 10, Suzanne Murdock, a Cypress resident, joined over 100 volunteers in Texas' largest community-led heat-mapping campaign to identify extreme heat spots in Harris County. Volunteers, including Murdock, used car sensors to record temperatures and humidity across more than 1,260 miles in three shifts throughout the day. The data, to be released this fall, will help guide heat mitigation efforts, such as planting 50,000 trees in underserved areas through a $15 million USDA grant. This project aims to increase tree canopy and community resilience, particularly in high-risk neighborhoods impacted by extreme weather events like Hurricane Beryl. The findings will inform urban planning to address the growing heat challenges in Harris County.

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