U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona is continuing to push for FEMA to recognize extreme heat as a major disaster.
Heat is by far the deadliest weather-related disaster in the U.S. Gallego is sponsoring a bill that would update the list of disasters FEMA responds to, so that it would include extreme heat alongside events like hurricanes or tornadoes.
Gallego has introduced similar legislation in past years when he was in the U.S. House.
FEMA officials have said extreme heat events could be considered for assistance in some exceptional cases under current rules. But some local officials in Arizona have called for more clarity from FEMA when it comes to what qualifies as a heat disaster.
This is one of several bills related to extreme heat Arizona Democrats have sponsored in Congress this year.
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The victim was an older adult male, but officials have not released any additional details about the case. Temperatures this spring have been much hotter than average. -
According to National Weather Service data, temperatures have averaged about 8.3 degrees above-normal so far this month – the third-hottest start to April on record in Phoenix. -
The Industrial Commission of Arizona voted to adopt heat safety guidelines for workplaces in the state. But labor groups still hope for enforceable regulations. -
Arizona labor groups are calling for state regulations to require specific protections from heat in workplaces. But actions from the state have so far fallen short of what workers have called for. -
As the Industrial Commission of Arizona considers workplace heat safety recommendations, some employers say they would welcome new heat rules, but others worry about overregulation.
