Ripe for disaster declarations — wildfire smoke, heat, and death data

Extreme heat and wildfire smoke should be recognized as major disasters by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to the National Weather Service, heat causes more deaths annually in the U.S. than hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and lightning combined. Despite this, no administration has approved a disaster declaration for extreme heat or wildfire smoke, even after multiple state requests, including from California during severe heat waves and wildfires.

States like Texas and Florida have blocked local heat protection laws for workers, while the Biden administration's proposed rules for heat protection face strong opposition from industry groups. Farm and construction workers, who earn below a living wage, are particularly vulnerable, facing higher risks of heat-related injuries.

A petition from 31 environmental and public health groups, led by the Center for Biological Diversity, urges FEMA to declare these events as disasters. This would provide federal funding for immediate relief and long-term mitigation, such as cooling centers and energy-efficient retrofits. With extreme heat costs projected to surge, better data and proactive measures are crucial for protecting vulnerable communities.