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Editor’s note: This story includes discussion of mental illness, depression and suicide. For disaster mental health support, call or text 800-985-5990. You can also call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis. Read our mental health resource guide for more information about the 988 lifeline.
Triple digit temperatures caused by a heat wave persisted from the second half of June throughout the summer, affecting a significant portion of Texas. This sudden rise in temperature resulted in an increase in heat-related illnesses and a need for electricity conservation to prevent overwhelming the state’s power grid.
The earth recorded its warmest July on record this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Climate change has increased average temperatures globally, and in Texas likely made the heat dome hotter than it would’ve been otherwise. Heat waves are becoming both more common and more severe due to climate change, scientists have found.
According to Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, a total of forty-five counties in Texas, primarily located in the southeast, southwest, and south-central regions of the state, experienced their hottest July on record. Nielsen-Gammon further predicts that Texas is highly likely to register its second-hottest summer ever this year.
Heat is a highly perilous form of weather, claiming more lives each year in the U.S. than hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods.
Climate, public health, and environment experts, as well as state and federal agencies and community advocates, provided answers to questions gathered by The Texas Tribune regarding the extreme heat. Reader-submitted questions were edited for brevity and clarity.
When is it expected to cool down? Are we stuck in this heat wave forever?
Fall is coming — and with it, cooler temperatures. Still, it’s expected to be a warmer than average fall in Texas, according to NOAA’s monthly forecast. Particularly in Southeast and Central Texas, September is expected to be warmer than typical for that month.
Simultaneously, a drought emerged in several parts of the state and is expected to persist throughout the autumn season. It is a common observation that dry conditions in Texas are typically associated with elevated temperatures.
How can people keep themselves and their pets safe from the heat?
Symptoms of weakness, dizziness, and nausea may indicate heat-related illness. It is crucial to take immediate action to prevent this condition from escalating into a heat stroke, which is a potentially life-threatening emergency. Heat strokes exhibit symptoms such as loss of consciousness, confusion, and a body temperature of 103 degrees or above.
In order to prevent heat-related sickness, it is advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to minimize sun exposure, particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when temperatures are highest. Additionally, it is recommended to stay hydrated by consuming electrolytes throughout the day while avoiding sugary, caffeinated beverages and alcohol. It is crucial to hydrate regularly rather than waiting until one feels thirsty.
In the event that your doctor restricts your water intake, it is advisable to consult them regarding the appropriate amount to drink in hot weather. Similarly, if you follow a low-salt diet or have medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or other chronic ailments, it is essential to seek your doctor’s advice before consuming electrolytes or salt tablets.
Steer clear of consuming hot and heavy meals as they have the tendency to raise your body temperature.
To ensure your safety when going outdoors, remember to apply sunscreen and dress in loose-fitting, light-colored garments. It is crucial to never leave adults, children, or pets unattended in a hot vehicle. Moreover, if you find yourself working or spending an extended period outside, be sure to take regular breaks.
Other precautions you can take in your home include covering large windows, weather stripping your doors and sills to keep cool air in and building a disaster kit in case of power outages, according to the National Integrated Heat Health Information System.
Heat stroke can affect animals as well. Owners should be alert for signs such as excessive panting, a reddish color in the gums, a rapid pulse, and the animal’s inability to stand up. If the animal’s temperature exceeds 105 degrees, it can be cooled down by spraying it with a water hose until the temperature drops to 103 degrees, and then it is crucial to promptly seek veterinary assistance.
To safeguard animals from heat stroke, the American Red Cross advises providing ample fresh water and shade for outdoor animals.
Apart from heat exhaustion or stroke, what other issues can heat exposure cause?
Cramps, sunburns, and rashes are among the other symptoms related to heat, serving as potential early indicators of excessive heat exposure.
If you get muscle pain and spasms, the CDC says to stop physical activity, go to a cool place and drink water or a sports drink. Wait until the cramps have gone away to continue physical activity.
In case your cramps persist for over an hour, or if you have heart issues or follow a low-sodium diet, it is important to seek medical assistance.
Avoid going out in the sun until your sunburn has fully healed, if you happen to get one.
A heat rash typically appears as a group of tiny blisters, often red in color, and commonly occurs in regions such as the neck, chest, and skin folds. In case you experience such a rash, the CDC advises seeking refuge in a cool and dry environment, ensuring the affected area remains dry, and employing baby powder for soothing relief.
A rise in various health issues, such as heart failure, escalated violence, aggression, and mental health emergencies, has been identified by doctors in Texas, attributing them indirectly to the prevailing heat.
According to Dr. Iván Meléndez, the health authority for Hidalgo County, he has observed numerous cases of patients experiencing heart issues due to the ongoing heatwave. This is attributed to heart failure patients consuming more water, which leads to fluid retention and swelling. It is advisable for individuals with heart failure to consult their doctors regarding the appropriate daily intake of fluids.
Decades of research have linked violence to hotter times of the year. In a recent 2019 study of Los Angeles from the National Bureau of Economic Research, researchers found that violent crime increased 5.7% on days that exceeded 85 degrees.
The American Psychiatric Association has also warned that extreme heat is associated with increases in irritability, symptoms of depression and an increase in suicide. You can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis.
Are symptoms of depression due to heat common?
Research has linked extreme heat and high temperatures with increased irritability, symptoms of depression and an increase in deaths by suicide, according to the American Pyschiatric Association.
However, research and data on summer seasonal affective disorder is not as extensive as with winter SAD, according to the Washington Post. One study of almost 3,000 Danish subjects found about 0.1% met the criteria for Summer SAD. This suggests that it could be rarer than winter SAD, which affects about 5% of Americans.
However, individuals who are suffering from summer SAD have an increased likelihood of suicide, making it crucial to treat this condition seriously. If you suspect that you are experiencing summer SAD, it is essential to acknowledge your emotions and actively seek medical assistance, as advised by The Post.
Taking cold showers and staying in air conditioned places may help, along with treatment for depression. You can find more information about heat and mental health from the Anxiety & Depression Association of America here.
The Texas Tribune also has a guide on how to care for your mental health amid natural disasters here. For disaster mental health support, call or text (800) 985-5990. You can also call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis.
How can I reduce my electricity bill during a heat wave?
Texans can shrink their bills by improving the energy efficiency of their homes and by reducing the amount of energy they consume. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the state’s electricity grid, recommends that Texans avoid using large appliances, turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances, and raise their thermostats by a degree or two to reduce power use.
According to Alice Liu, the co-director of communications, rebuild, and fundraising at West Street Recovery, air conditioning is usually the largest contributor to electricity bills. To minimize cooling requirements, she suggests using thick curtains. For those using window air conditioning units, conserving energy can be achieved by cooling only essential rooms instead of the entire house.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Weatherization Program provides energy audits and home repairs for low-income Texans, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
After an audit is complete, organizations funded by the program can install weatherization materials and minor home repairs, such as window sealing, to help control electricity costs. To apply for the program, which is open to households at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, Texans must contact their local program provider, which you can search for on the TDHCA website, and their retail electric provider, according to the Public Utility Commission.
Texas no longer provides a state-funded program to help low-income families pay their electric bills, however, many electric providers provide benefits to low-income customers. The PUC recommends that Texans who are in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) or on Medicaid contact their electric provider to find out what assistance is available.
To connect with your local low-income energy office, feel free to dial the Energy Assistance Hotline at (866) 674-6327 during the hours of 8 am CT to 6 pm CT.
How can I get help fixing the air conditioning?
Texas law requires landlords to make a diligent effort to repair a problem if it “materially affects the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant.”
However, Ben Martin, a research director for Texas Housers, pointed out that there is no clear indication in state law regarding the applicability of this provision to air conditioning. Nonetheless, he mentioned that certain tenants have managed to take legal action using this provision as grounds to compel their landlords to address air conditioning issues.
Because there are several requirements and steps for requesting the repair — such as providing the landlord with a reasonable amount of time to make the repair and being current on rent — Martin recommends that tenants contact a lawyer for help filing a remedy and repair case. The Texas Young Lawyers Association and the State Bar of Texas also have a Tenants’ Rights Handbook available.
Aside from tenants’ rights, some cities and counties in Texas assist residents with installing or fixing their air conditioning. For example, Dallas County offers a program to assist low-income households with fixing air-conditioning units or providing air-conditioning window units. Christian Grisales, a public information officer for Dallas County Health & Human Services, previously told the Tribune that the program prioritizes elderly and disabled residents, as well as families with small children.
Low-income Texans may be eligible for HVAC assistance through federally-funded weatherization programs. To connect with your local Low-Income Energy Office and seek help, dial the Energy Assistance Hotline at (866) 674-6327 between 8 am CT and 6 pm CT.
Some Texas cities, including Houston and Dallas, have codes or ordinances that require landlords to keep units cool. But it’s unclear whether those local regulations will remain in effect if House Bill 2127, passed by state lawmakers earlier this year, is allowed to take effect. Martin, of Texas Housers, said he’s hopeful those codes will be protected.
How can people without shelter stay cool?
Cities such as Austin have made public libraries and parks and recreation facilities cooling centers during normal operating hours, but advocates say more temporary housing and shelters are needed to help people experiencing homelessness in the extreme heat.
Texans can find a list of cooling centers on local government websites and on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s 211 website. Type “cooling centers” into the website’s search bar for a statewide list. You can apply a filter to look at cooling centers by city, county or ZIP code.
How many deaths have been attributed to heat?
According to data collected by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas has recorded a minimum of 36 heat-related fatalities as of July 20. Nevertheless, these initial statistics are not definitive, and multiple experts have expressed their belief that the actual number of deaths in the state is likely higher. This discrepancy arises because not all heat-induced fatalities are officially classified as hyperthermia, which refers to extreme exposure to natural heat.
In 2022, during one of the hottest summers on record, the state estimated 279 people in Texas were killed by the heat, a two-decade high.
How can I help outdoor animals during extreme heat?
Pets and wild animals may be impacted by the heat. One can assist by offering shade and water, or by notifying the authorities if an animal seems to be in distress.
If you spot a dog in distress or left alone inside a hot car, the Texas Humane Network recommends quickly contacting local law enforcement or animal control, raising awareness to see if you can locate the owner, documenting the situation and continuing to monitor the animal. While Texas law protects people from liability for entering a vehicle to save a person, this does not apply to animal rescues.
Texas law does, however, require dogs left unattended outside by their owners to have drinkable water and shelter from inclement weather, including extreme high temperatures. If they are tethered, safe restraints, such as cable tie-outs correctly attached to a collar or harness, must be used instead of chains, and the restraint must be no shorter than five times the dog’s length.
You can help wild animals during a drought or heat wave by conserving water and planting native plants when conditions improve, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. If you see an orphaned or injured animal, you can call a local wildlife rehabilitator. Find a rehabilitator by county here.
If trees die during this heat wave, will it be harder for us to stay cool next year?
According to Mac Martin, the urban and community forestry program lead for Texas A&M’s Forest Service, a majority of trees in Texas are experiencing heat stress as a result of the ongoing drought. Moreover, given the series of droughts and freezes that have occurred in Texas since 2021, trees may face increased challenges in enduring the current heat and drought conditions.
According to Martin, the increased plant growth resulting from a relatively wet spring season has now turned into a potential fuel for wildfires, posing yet another threat to tree health this year.
The presence of trees contributes to a cooler environment by providing shade and facilitating evaporation, which in turn cools the surrounding air. Consequently, a decrease in the number of trees may result in certain areas becoming warmer.
Texans can safeguard their trees by properly hydrating the roots and soil in the early morning, around 3 or 4 a.m., when there is minimal water evaporation. Additionally, maintaining soil moisture can be achieved by encircling the tree with a 2 to 3-inch high layer of mulch.
The Texas A&M Forest Service’s TreeCovery Program, a fund that takes donations, also provides free trees to communities who have lost trees to natural disasters. Learn more about trees and drought through the Forest Service here.
Emily Foxhall, Julia Guilbeau and Joe Timmerman contributed to this story.
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