U.S. senators from Arizona and Nevada have introduced legislation declaring extreme heat a major disaster.
The Extreme Heat Emergency Act from Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, and Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, would “explicitly authorize extreme heat as eligible for a Major Disaster Declaration” by the president of the United States under the Stafford Act, a 1980s law relating to weather events.
In a press release, Gallego said “extreme heat kills more Americans” annually than every other form of extreme weather combined.
“But still, the federal government sits on the sidelines, leaving state and local governments to drain their funds trying to keep people safe,” said Gallego.
“By adding extreme heat to FEMA’s list of major disasters, we can unlock the funds and support our communities desperately need,” he said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Pointing to her home state, Rosen said more than 500 people died last year from heat-related illnesses, and that was just in one county. In 2025, at least 29 people in southern Nevada have died from health-related causes.
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Author: Marty Kaufmann
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