Two U.S. senators are advocating for the inclusion of extreme heat in federal disaster declarations, pointing to an increasing death toll and the mounting pressure on state and local resources.
Senators Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) have put forth the Extreme Heat Emergency Act, which seeks to modify the Stafford Act to enable the president to designate extreme heat as a major disaster — thereby unlocking FEMA funding and assistance, as reported by The Center Square.
“Extreme heat results in more fatalities among Americans each year than any other form of extreme weather,” Gallego stated in a press release. “Yet, the federal government remains inactive, forcing state and local authorities to exhaust their resources in efforts to ensure public safety.”
“By incorporating extreme heat into FEMA’s classification of major disasters, we can access the financial resources and support that our communities urgently require,” he continued.
