Episode 125: #WinterReady - Winter Preparedness and the Unique Challenges the Cold Can Pose

Heatwaves are on the increase and garner well-deserved attention from the media. While these extreme heat events are growing in frequency and severity, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, found that more deaths occur due to exposure to the cold. The CDC reports that in 2019, about 1,300 people died of hypothermia. An analysis by the CDC of U.S. temperature related deaths between 2006 and 2010, showed that 63% were attributable to cold exposure. To help people prepare for winter weather, FEMA's Ready campaign's first ever Winter Ready public education effort is designed to reach all communities with simple, accessible and culturally competent messaging on how to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their homes. So, this episode is the first of a series where we consider multiple aspects of winter preparedness and the unique challenges the cold can pose. So, on this episode, we discuss that and more with Matt Lanza, a Houston-based meteorologist who lived through the impacts of winter weather in the Southwest in recent years.