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A Heat Dome Currently Impacting the Southwestern U.S. is an Important Reminder to Prepare for Extreme Heat during the Summer Season

A Heat Dome Currently Impacting the Southwestern U.S. is an Important Reminder to Prepare for Extreme Heat during the Summer Season

Created: Thursday, June 6, 2024 - 15:48
Categories:
Federal & State Resources, General Security and Resilience, Natural Disasters

An early season heat dome is creating life-threatening temperatures for 30 million people across the Southwest, from Texas to California. These soaring temperatures serves as an important reminder for water and wastewater utilities to prepare their staff for increasing instances of extreme heat, which are projected to grow due to climate.

In 2023, America experienced its highest number of heat related deaths to date. According to an AP analysis, “the death certificates of more than 2,300 people who died in the United States last summer mention the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years of records.” And with this summer projected to be one of the hottest on record, 2024 could be even deadlier. Accordingly, extreme heat can impact utility workers in the field as well as the infrastructure assets themselves. A past report from the Association of Metropolitan Agencies (AMWA), which operates WaterISAC, and the Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA), “It's Hot and Getting Hotter: Implications of Extreme Heat on Water Utility Staff and Infrastructure and Ideas for Adapting,” describes the implications of heat impacts on utility personnel and assets over the next 50 years.

Extreme heat has been the greatest weather-related cause of death in the U.S. for the past 30 years – more than hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, or extreme cold – killing over 700 people each year. And summers are getting hotter and deadlier, with July 2021 the hottest month ever recorded on Earth. The annual average temperature in the contiguous U.S. is projected to rise by 5 to 8.7 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century, necessitating efforts to understand and address risks. Several resources posted below offer guidance on mitigating the risk associated with extreme heat. Notably, heat.gov offers heat planning and preparedness guides and other open-source tools to help utilites with their preparedness efforts. Read more at the Washington Post, NBC News, NPR, and at Axios.

Extreme Heat Resources: