How many people die from extreme heat in the U.S. each year?

Sep 14

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

According to the data from the NPR report in the chart above, according to official CDC estimates, how many people died from excessive heat in the U.S. in 2024?
According to the data from the chart above, according to scientific models, how many people actually died from excessive heat in the U.S. in 2024?
According to the data from the chart above, since 2018, approximately five times as many people died from excessive heat as the CDC counted. According to the scientific models, about how many people a year die of excessive heat?
Describe what has happened to the number of people who died of excessive heat in the U,S, since 2018.
The dangers from heat are growing every year because of human-caused climate change. The heat wave season has extended by a month and a half since the 1960s. In 50 of the country's biggest cities, the number of heat waves has doubled since the 1980s. Heat domes that settle over the country regularly expose tens of millions of Americans — sometimes well over 100 million at a time — to dangerous heat. Why do you think temperatures are rising?
We are currently experiencing a Super El Niño which some people are now referring to as a Super Godzilla Monster El Niño. The El Niño is likely to be the largest in at least 1,000 years and will pile extra heat into an atmosphere where temperatures are already rising rapidly due to global heating. The combination means 2027 is set to blow apart the record and be the hottest year ever recorded. How do you think this weather phenomena will likely impact excessive heat deaths in the U.S.?
Some Americans would argue that issues like these are best left to the states and should not be handled by the national government. What would an 18th century Anti-Federalist say about this and what would you say to that Anti-Federalist?
According to data from the chart below* heat has caused more US deaths yearly than hurricanes and tornadoes combined on average over the past thirty years. What do you think the federal government should do for excessive heat, the natural disaster that causes the most deaths in the U.S.?
I have been following the 2026 midterm elections and have heard almost zero discussion of human caused climate change. Last year speaking at the United Nations, President Donald J. Trump said, "This 'climate change,' it's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion,. All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong. They were made by stupid people that have cost their countries fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success. If you don't get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail." Why do you think so little attention is being focused on climate change even in the midst of a Super El Niño?
While the number of billion dollar climate disaster events is certain to rise, the Trump administration has degraded and cut funding to the organizations and fired the very scientists and experts who predict and warn about natural disasters like: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The National Weather Service, The National Hurricane Center; agencies that fight natural disasters like the U.S. Fire Administration; and agencies that provided relief from natural disasters like The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). One of the most important jobs of the government is protecting its citizens. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitutions states: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” In terms of climate change and excessive heat, what is our national government doing to insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and protect Americans?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

If you would like to directly help the people impacted by excessive heat please connect with the American Red Cross. The Red Cross offers food, shelter, supplies, and emotional support to victims of crisis. You can learn more about the American Red Cross and make a donation here. Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps people affected by disasters such as heat, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes.

Get Creative

Rename this year’s Super El Niño. I like Super Godzilla Monster El Niño but I think you can do better than that. Post your rename in the comments section below.