There has been increasing pressure from scientists and local leaders on the agency to do so. Currently, FEMA does not officially recognize heat waves as disasters.That city's mayor, Kate Gallego, and chief heat officer, David Hondula, are both calling for more federal funding to support their efforts related to mitigating the impact of extreme heat. Phoenix has been experiencing temperatures above 110 degrees for a longer stretch of time than ever before - 27 days and counting, as of Thursday.Human-caused climate change is also making heat waves longer, more frequent and more intense, meaning events like this summer's record-breaking heat in the U.S.Baughman McLeod says we need clearer data to create a sense of urgency that could save lives, pointing to the hundreds of deaths attributed to the 2021 heat wave over the Pacific Northwest that she calls a "mass casualty event.".She says part of the reason it's so difficult for governments to understand the true impact of heat is that there is no consistent record keeping of heat-related illnesses or deaths on hospital forms when a patient seeks help."The increase of the risk and the impact is happening so quickly, our own perception of it can't keep up," Baughman McLeod said.Baughman McLeod says the country's infrastructure doesn't adequately support those victimized by heat, especially the most vulnerable populations, which are often Black and Brown people.What's the big deal? Heat is a known killer, yet the data gathered on heat-related illness and deaths is inconsistent and incomplete. Getty Images Vendors sell water along the Brooklyn Bridge on July 27. Baughman McLeod also wants heat waves to be categorized and officially named like hurricanes, to give them the same urgency and legitimacy as other extreme weather events, saying: "We think, and are showing, that a health-based categorization system is a great way to convey how deadly the risk is at any certain time in a given community.".Baughman McLeod and her team have been pushing cities to name "chief heat officers" to address heat that is worsened by climate change, and have welcomed appointments in cities like Miami, Monterrey, Dhaka and Melbourne. It's everybody and nobody's problem, and I think that needs to change," she told NPR.
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