Jake Bittle, staff writer at Grist, discusses the invisibility of extreme heat and the lack of media coverage. They highlight the dangers of heatwaves and the challenges faced by vulnerable communities. The episode explores the perception of heat as a disaster and the need for preparedness in dealing with extreme heat events.
Extreme heat poses an invisible threat that lacks coverage compared to traditional disasters.
FEMA's lack of recognition for heat emergencies highlights the need for improved public awareness and support systems.
Deep dives
Global Heat Wave Crisis
Across the globe and the United States, heat waves have become increasingly severe due to human-induced climate change. Record temperatures are being experienced, leading to dangerous conditions. Arizona faced extreme heat last summer with temperatures reaching 110 degrees for an extended period, creating hazardous conditions such as sidewalks heating up to over 150 degrees.
Invisibility and Impact of Extreme Heat
Extreme heat poses a significant threat, yet its impacts are often overlooked compared to other natural disasters. Reporting on heat-related deaths and health crises is challenging due to the lack of visual destruction, making it less newsworthy. The invisibility of heat as a disaster leads to disparities in coverage and attention.
Challenges in Addressing Heat Disasters
Heat-related disasters are not officially recognized by FEMA, hindering comprehensive emergency responses. Unlike traditional disasters that cause visible damage to property, heat primarily affects human health and labor productivity. The lack of federal recognition and funding for heat emergencies necessitates improved public awareness, infrastructure, and community support systems to mitigate the impacts of heat waves.
Across the globe, summers are getting unseasonably, and scarily hot, and last year the United Nations announcing that we've entered the era of "global boiling." And yet it's hard to grapple with the damage caused by extreme heat. It's the deadliest kind of climate disaster, but victims of heat often die out of sight of the public eye. FEMA doesn't even respond to extreme heat waves in the way it does to other "major disasters." Jake Bittle is a staff writer at Grist covering climate impact. Brooke spoke to Bittle last year about the invisibility of extreme heat, the challenge it presents to news outlets, and the potential value of naming heat waves.
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