Sections Show Search Extreme Heat The inequality of heat dangers Heat waves’ deadly toll Warehouse workers face dangers How to protect yourself CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT The L.A. Times investigation into extreme heat’s deadly toll Allan Wanner, who lives alone at Corkill Park RV & Mobile Homes in Desert Hot Springs, tries to stay cool by drinking melted ice cubes in his trailer in May 2021.(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) OCT. 7, 2021 5 AM PT Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Extreme heat is one of the deadliest consequences of global warming. But in a state that prides itself as a climate leader, California chronically undercounts the death toll and has failed to address the growing threat of heat-related illness and death, a Los Angeles Times investigation has found. READ THE INVESTIGATION Heat waves are far deadlier than we think. How California neglects this climate threat California chronically undercounts the death toll from extreme heat, which disproportionately harms the poor, the elderly and others who are vulnerable. How we reported this story Reporters Anna M. Phillips, Tony Barboza, Ruben Vives and Sean Greene, working with health data analyst Logan Arnold, found that heat likely caused about 3,900 deaths over the previous decade — six times the state’s official tally. This undercounting, they wrote, has contributed to California’s lack of urgency in confronting a public health crisis that is only getting worse. How our reporters revealed the shocking death toll of California heat waves California has done a poor job tackling a public health crisis that is only getting worse with climate change. Sept. 17, 2021 The inequalities of how we experience heat People’s risk of heat-related illness and death is also a product of the built environment around them. The amount of paved surfaces and tree cover where they live and work, the quality of their housing and their ability to pay to cool their surroundings can make the difference between death or mere discomfort. The unequal distribution of cooling infrastructure in Los Angeles and other cities is a big reason the health impacts of worsening heat waves fall disproportionately on the poor and communities of color while those with money and privilege remain relatively shielded from the problem — by trees and parks, better housing and the power to crank up the air conditioning whenever they want. Poor neighborhoods bear the brunt of extreme heat, ‘legacies of racist decision-making’ Paved surfaces, tree cover, and home construction quality can make the difference between heat waves being an inconvenience or a threat to your life. Oct. 28, 2021 The dangers warehouse workers face How hot is it inside Southern California’s warehouses? Ask the workers at Rite Aid Extreme heat is endangering California warehouse workers, who often labor without air conditioning. Oct. 12, 2021 Fueled by customers’ growing addiction to one-day delivery and a pandemic-driven surge in online shopping, demand for warehouses has skyrocketed. As land near major ports and cities becomes scarcer and pricier, developers are heading deeper into the Inland Empire and the Central Valley, where temperatures are rising faster than in coastal communities. Low-wage workers, most of them Black and Latino, are facing increased risks as they follow the job boom to some of the hottest parts of California, into warehouses that industry experts say are mostly not air-conditioned. Air conditioning can mean life or death Federal data show that poor families have a far lower rate of air conditioning units in their homes than the average, and even when they have AC, they are reluctant to use it, or get equipment fixed due to costs. As heat waves intensify and become more frequent, AC can be the difference between life and death. As heat waves intensify, access to air conditioning can mean life or death Utilities have funds available to install air conditioning in low-income households, but for one California family, help did not come soon enough. Oct. 7, 2021 The role of climate change Climate change is transforming the character of the West’s hottest periods — making them more frequent, more persistent, more humid and more lethal. Experts say this shift in heat waves should prompt changes in emergency notifications and public health response to keep the death toll from rising. But that isn’t happening. Climate change is supercharging California heat waves, and the state isn’t ready California’s worst heat waves arrive in a one-two punch — high temperatures combined with humid air from Baja. Oct. 7, 2021 Staying safe amid extreme heat With climate change triggering increasingly severe heat, Californians need to prepare themselves for temperature extremes, just as they do for earthquakes and other disasters. Here’s what you need to know about heat-related illnesses. How can you identify, treat and prevent them? How to protect yourself and your loved ones from extreme heat What are heat-related illnesses and how are they treated? Are they preventable or inevitable? We talked to health experts for the answers. Oct. 7, 2021 Impact California considers ranking heat waves after Times investigation into extreme heat deaths Nov. 12, 2021 Dozens of L.A. County communities face growing peril from fire, heat, flooding Nov. 12, 2021 Keep up with our coverage The Times has more coverage about extreme heat and climate change coming. 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