A new investigation shows heat is even deadlier than we thought
Summary
NPR’s Alejandra Borbon reveals that the US undercounts heat-related deaths by five times, estimating 9,000 annual fatalities instead of the official 1,700. Partnering with epidemiologist Quinn Adams, she used modeling to show heat often triggers other conditions, making it hard to track. The episode highlights personal stories, systemic tracking failures, and emerging policy solutions like Arizona’s AC regulations and New York’s utility protections.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The unbearable heat and undercounting deaths
New estimate: 9,000 heat-related deaths annually
Personal stories: Avoidable deaths from broken AC
Why heat deaths are hard to track and certify
Methodology: Modeling excess mortality and lag effects
Shifting perspective: Heat as a collective policy problem
Local solutions: Arizona and New York's heat strategies
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