The scorching heat wave that has gripped Texas for weeks has claimed at least 11 lives and pushed the state’s power grid to the brink of collapse, as temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in many areas.
The victims, who ranged in age from 56 to 88, died from heat-related illness in the past two weeks, according to local officials. Ten of them were found indoors with no air conditioning or with air conditioners that were not working or had been turned off.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the state’s power grid operator, said power use hit a preliminary all-time high Tuesday as demand for air conditioning spiked. The council expects another record to be set Wednesday and has urged residents to conserve energy where possible.
“We’re seeing a lot of people that are dehydrated and they don’t know it. They’re just feeling weak and tired and they don’t realize that they’re dehydrated,” said Dr. Robert Hancock, president of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians, in an interview with MSN News.
Heat is the number-one weather-related killer in the world, with more than 600 people dying from heat-related illnesses every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency reported that emergency room visits for heat illness in Texas last week were about 30 percent higher than the same time last year.
The heat wave, which has affected Texas for well over a week, is set to expand northward and eastward, putting nearly 90 million Americans under heat alerts. More than 150 heat records could be broken during the next six days, according to the National Weather Service.
The extreme heat is also linked to climate change, which is making near-record temperatures in parts of Texas at least five times more likely, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit research group. The group said human-caused global warming has increased the frequency, severity and duration of heat waves across the country.
“With over 120 million U.S. residents across the Midwest and Northeast under an air quality alert and 60 million residents in the South under heat advisories on Thursday, Americans are contending with two different effects caused by climate change,” AOL News reported.
Local officials have warned people to take precautions and limit time outdoors, especially during the hottest hours of the day. They have also advised people to drink plenty of water, wear light-colored clothing and check on vulnerable neighbors.
“The death toll is likely to rise as the scorching temperatures continue, officials said,” ABC News reported.
Relevant articles:
– At least 11 dead in Texas from heat-related illness amid scorching temperatures, officials say, ABC News, June 29, 2023
– The heat wave blamed for 13 deaths in Texas so far spreads eastward, Dallas News, June 29, 2023
– Amazon worker nearly collapses working in scorching Texas heat wave, MSN News, June 29, 2023
– What the Canada wildfire smoke and Texas heat wave have in common: Climate change, AOL News, June 30, 2023