Too Hot to Handle? America’s Deadly Heat Problem

Extreme heat kills more Americans most years than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined, but we don’t give it the same emergency treatment. The government doesn’t name heatwaves like it does storms. And extreme heat doesn’t qualify for federal disaster funding. But record-breaking temperatures are now a yearly reality across the U.S. Cities are scrambling for solutions—from planting trees to setting up cooling centers—but experts say quick fixes aren’t enough. In this episode of Top of Mind, host Julie Rose speaks with heat researchers about how policy, planning, and public awareness must evolve to confront rising temperatures. From deadly heatwaves to heightened risks for vulnerable communities, the danger isn’t just about how hot it gets—it’s about how prepared we are to respond. GUESTS Larissa Larsen, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Michigan (https://taubmancollege.umich.edu/faculty/directory/larissa-larsen/) Rob Meade, Research Fellow for the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/robert-meade/) Michelle Litwin, Heat Response Program Manager for the Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation (https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/heat.html) TIKTOK ACCOUNTS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS EPISODE: @Junifrec, @Ascocool, @Mitchellfranxman, @Jenwhite, @Ashley_simone1108, @Hardline_daily, @Jordanjchart, @Stefanies.lifestyle, @Damarypaz, @abbymcduck CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:43 The Growing Threat of Heat Waves 02:27 Heat as an Emergency 04:43 Historical Heatwave Impact 06:07 Urban Planning and Heat Resilience 17:42 The Human Body's Response to Extreme Heat 23:55 Behavioral & Physiological Responses to Heat 26:11 Cooling Strategies 28:25 Phoenix's Heat Response Initiatives 31:02 Challenges & Solutions in Phoenix 39:08 Data-Driven Heat Mitigation 40:25 Conclusion