News briefing · Published
Record heat and heat deaths: plan for next summer's outages
What should a family do when the hottest summer on record brings a power outage?
FOX Weather reported that the U.S. had its hottest summer on record in 2026, and Maryland recorded 50 heat-related deaths. Plan for heat as well as cold. Keep a cool room, battery fans, stored drinking water and a charged portable power station, and check on older neighbors on hot days.
FOX Weather reports that the United States had its hottest summer on record in 2026. Global summer temperatures tied 2024 as the hottest ever recorded, according to Copernicus.
What happened
FOX Weather said the U.S. experienced its hottest summer on record, without giving a figure. Maryland health officials reported 50 heat-related deaths since May, surpassing the previous record of 46 in 2012. Of the people who died, 62% were aged 65 and older.
What it means for your home
A power cut during a heat wave can stop fans and air conditioning at the worst time. Older adults are at higher risk, so a cooling plan matters as much as a plan for cold.
What to do this week
- Pick the coolest room in the house and plan how to keep it shaded.
- Charge battery fans and a portable power station.
- Store extra drinking water in clean, sealed containers.
- Check on older neighbors and relatives every day during hot spells.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist how heat affects any medicines you take.
For keeping food cold on backup power, read Run a fridge on a portable power station.
Sources
This briefing is general information, not medical, legal or electrical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.