Extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the United States, and Delaware is not immune. Between 2019 and 2023, our state saw over 1,450 emergency department visits due to heat-related illness, with July alone accounting for nearly half of all cases1. Vulnerable communities such as seniors, children, outdoor workers, low-income families, and those without access to cooling are hit the hardest.
Delaware is one of the fastest warming states in the US, and our average annual temperature has already risen by 3 degrees Fahrenheit since 19003, with summers projected to become even hotter and longer. Without action, heat will continue to put our neighbors, our health, and our economy at risk. Yet awareness of how to prevent heat illness remains low, and too many residents do not know the signs of heat exhaustion, where to find cooling centers, or how to protect vulnerable loved ones.