A new study from the University of Georgia suggests hurricanes may now pose an additional danger to people through heat exposure.
Hurricanes threaten lives and cause significant economic damage. But their risks extend beyond just the storm itself.
"People tend to think of rainfall, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes as the major hazards from hurricanes, but heat is also a serious threat," said Andrew Grundstein, lead author of the study and a professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of geography.
Although heat exposure has been documented after hurricanes, little research has examined how it affects disaster relief workers during recovery operations. Hurricane season peaks during the hottest part of the year in the Gulf region, Florida and the Southeast.
The study evaluated the heat stress conditions faced by emergency response personnel deployed to southeastern Texas following Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, a period marked by prolonged power outages and extreme heat. Houston-area hospitals experienced a surge in heat-related illnesses.
In the worst-case scenarios, the study found workers who were not used to the heat and doing intense work with little rest were exposed to conditions that exceeded safety thresholds 75% to 100% of the time.
"Hurricane Beryl struck Texas in 2024 and left a million people without power. July in Texas without air conditioning and with numerous teams of first responders rushing and working frantically on rescues and other lifesaving efforts creates an extremely dangerous combination.
"The kinds of hazards they're facing mirror those of the broader population, but the hazard for first responders highlights the dangers for everyone," Grundstein said.
Raising awareness of heat dangers is key
While not as visibly destructive as wind or floods, heat kills more Americans than other types of weather disasters.
The study's findings indicate that disaster relief workers who perform activities outdoors face substantial heat-related health risks in the aftermath of hurricanes, especially when access to cooling, rest and other protective measures is limited.
One projected outcome of the new research is a greater awareness about heat-related dangers.
"It may be especially challenging for disaster relief workers to avoid risks of the fifth hazard because they are facing additional connections and personal pressures in novel and fast-paced environments," said Michelle Ritchie, co-author of the study and an assistant professor in the UGA College of Public Health Institute for Disaster Management.
Tailored heat management strategies are needed to protect emergency personnel operating in high-stress environments where conventional workplace safety protocols may not be practical, the researchers said.
"One critical set of challenges is the various levels of city, state, federal employees, private sector employees and the utility companies working in concert following a major storm," said Marshall Shepherd, co-author of the study, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences and director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at UGA. "Given the multi-level coordination required, it's important for these organizations to think about heat policies to protect themselves as they work to support local populations."
Policies like rotating teams and implementing cooling technologies on a wide scale could help protect workers from heat hazards.
"It is critical to think through what we can do to help support these workers so that they not only don't get heat illnesses but also are able perform at their best and help those communities," Grundstein said.
Published in GeoHealth, the study was co-authored by the University of Connecticut's Rebecca Stearns.
