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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 26 OctOber 2022
Heat deaths in Arizona’s biggest county outpace last year’s

By ANITA SNOW hard to come by in other curred outdoors, but the heat,” said Amy Schwa- tanyl, an opioid, was found
Associated Press in 30%.
PHOENIX (AP) — This sum- While fentanyl is more
mer was the deadliest on likely to result in overdose,
record for heat-associated meth can create changes
fatalities in Arizona’s larg- to the body that make a
est county amid a grow- user more vulnerable to
ing wave of homelessness. the heat, heightening the
Public health statistics this blood pressure, heart and
week confirmed a record respiratory rate
359 such deaths just days Homeless people account-
before the end of the six- ed for 38% of the deaths in-
month heat season. volving drugs in 2021.
The jump in deaths raises Males, African Americans,
questions about how to Indigenous Americans and
better protect vulnerable those ages 75 and over
people not only in the des- had the highest rates of
ert Southwest, where tem- heat-associated deaths in
peratures regularly hit tri- the county in 2021.
ple digits, but also in more David Hondula, director of
temperate areas where the year-old Office of Heat
climate change has fueled Response and Mitigation
more intense, frequent and for the city of the Phoe-
enduring heat waves. nix, said in a report to City
According to the National Council last week that his
Weather Service, the high- Salvation Army volunteer Cleon Streitmatter hands out water bottles at a Salvation Army heat relief team is studying the num-
est temperature recorded station as temperatures hit 114-degrees, Monday, July 11, 2022, in Phoenix. Associated Press bers to understand what
this year at Phoenix Sky is behind the increase in
Harbor International Airport deaths and how to plan for
was 115 degrees (46.1 C) areas such as the Pacific preliminary heat reports benlender, executive di- next summer.
on July 11, with the mercury Northwest, which has only for this year don’t estimate rector of the Human Servic- Hondula said heat-related
hitting 114 degrees (45.5 C) experienced intense heat how many of the deaths es Campus in downtown calls for assistance to the
on June 11 and July 16 and waves in recent years. were among the home- Phoenix that brings togeth- Phoenix Fire Department
22. In California, researchers less rather than people er agencies assisting home- over the summer were ex-
Maricopa County’s heat- have found that unshel- who were working outside less people. pected to end up at least
associated fatalities this tered people especially or were outdoors for other Information about the role 10-20% above 2021.
year have outpaced the those with a mental illness reasons. But the increase that substance use played The city fire department

339 deaths confirmed in were significantly more like- comes amid a surge in peo- in this year’s heat-associat- responded to 1,670 calls
2021 and the final number ly to end up in the hospital ple living outside in metro ed deaths is not yet avail- for service related to the
could be higher still, with during extreme heat than Phoenix, with hundreds of able. heat between April 1 and
another 91 deaths still un- housed people, based homeless individuals sleep- But last year, substance use September 30, a 13.6%
der investigation. on a study of emergency ing in tents downtown amid was a factor in 60% of those increase over the same
The county has more than room admissions. soaring rents and evictions. fatalities in Maricopa Coun- period in 2021. The high-
a decade of experience Nearly 80% of the heat- “With so many more home- ty. Methamphetamine was est density of calls came
tracking heat deaths, but associated deaths in Mari- less people, it makes sense found in 91% of the deaths from Phoenix’s central and
comparable figures are copa County this year oc- that more would die in the involving drugs, and fen- downtown urban areas.q

Ian’s damage to Florida agriculture as high as $1.8 billion

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Hur- as $1.8 billion in damages month, state agriculture of- riculture loss as high as $1.5 could amount to as much
ricane Ian caused as much to Florida agriculture last ficials said. billion. as 11% of citrus trees, the
The Category 4 storm Crop damage ranged from report said. Even before
caused between $1.1 bil- $686 million to $1.2 billion. the hurricane, Florida’s
lion and $1.8 billion in losses The biggest losses came orange production was
to the state’s crops and from citrus which had dam- predicted to be down by
agriculture infrastructure ages between $416 mil- almost a third this season
when it tore through the lion and $675 million, the because of the deadly cit-
peninsula after landing in Department of Agriculture rus greening disease. When
southwest Florida, accord- report said. The hurricane it comes to non-citrus fruits
ing to a preliminary esti- hit almost at the start of and vegetables, Florida lost
mate released Monday by the citrus growing season an estimated $153.7 million
the Florida Department of in Florida, which produces to $230.5 million, or around
Agriculture and Consumer about 60% of all the citrus 10% to 15% of crops, just as
Services. consumed in the U.S. the planting season was
The agency’s estimate was Not only did citrus growers getting into full gear. Many
in the same range as a lose fruit that was blown off fields lost plastic and drip-
Fifth generation farmer Roy Petteway looks at the damage to his University of Florida prelimi- trees, but they now face tape irrigation and other
citrus grove from the effects of Hurricane Ian on Oct. 12, 2022, in
Zolfo Springs, Fla. nary estimate released last the prospect of damaged infrastructure, the report
Associated Press week that put Florida’s ag- trees from flooding. The loss said.q