If you think summer’s getting hotter every year, you’re not imagining it. Climate experts have confirmed that heat waves are intensifying worldwide, posing significant threats to health, power systems and everyday survival. For preppers, knowledge equals readiness. Here’s what the science says about climate-driven heat and what you can do right now to stay ahead of it.
Trends and Dangers of Heat Waves
Here’s what scientists and public health experts have discovered about how heat waves are changing and why they’re becoming more dangerous each year.
Heat Waves Are Getting Worse
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as average global temperatures rise, the frequency of extreme hot days is projected to increase. Its “Climate Change Indicators: Heat Waves” report shows that major U.S. cities now average about six heat waves annually — up from around two per year in the 1960s. What once was a rare event may become a seasonal norm.
Heat Kills and Weakens Your Defenses
In the United States, extreme heat is already the deadliest of all natural hazards. Data from 1999 to 2023 show that 21,518 Americans lost their lives to heat-related issues, highlighting just how lethal prolonged exposure can be.
[Editor’s note: As much as we tend to focus on cold weather as being “the” threat to your survival when the power goes out, extreme heat can be even more problematic because, while you can often add more clothing during the winter, you can only remove so much clothing during the summer. Then what will you do?]
Heat stress compromises the body’s thermoregulation and can trigger a cascade of events, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and organ failure. Chronic illnesses, including diabetes and respiratory diseases, are exacerbated by the heat.
Also, vulnerable groups like older adults, infants and those with limited mobility face disproportionate risk. In cities, the urban heat island effect can raise nighttime temperatures and reduce cooling relief, leaving residents with no safe escape after sunset.
Predicting Heat Waves Is Improving
Researchers are utilizing novel statistical and machine-learning methods to predict prolonged heat events. Convolutional neural network models have demonstrated promise in predicting 14-day extreme heat waves up to 15 days in advance. Other deep-learning approaches also aim to anticipate the onset and longevity of extreme heat.
However, while forecasting is improving, the chaotic nature of weather systems means surprises remain — and you must build in margins for error.
Preparedness Strategies for Heat Risk
Surviving climate-driven heat waves is about smart planning, layered systems and situational awareness. The following strategies combine expert guidance with practical preparedness tactics to help you stay cool, safe and self-reliant when the next heat wave strikes.
Prepare Hydration, Medical and Monitoring Plans
During heat events, water is your best ally. Store extra drinking water, electrolyte solutions and oral rehydration salts for use in emergencies. Make it a habit to drink regularly, rather than waiting for thirst to strike.
[Editor’s note: Electrolytes don’t get enough discussion when it comes to basic survival, especially during heatwaves because your body naturally loses several electrolytes, especially sodium, when sweating. I strongly recommend you know how to make an Oral Rehydration Solution, which can be easily made clean water, salt, and sugar. While you’re at it, print out the recipe and know when use is contraindicated.]
Review first-aid procedures for heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and ensure your group knows the signs — confusion, rapid pulse, or hot, dry skin mean it’s time for emergency cooling and medical help. Equip your area with thermometers, hygrometers or wearable heat sensors to monitor risk in real time. Most importantly, create a check-in system so no one suffers alone during peak heat.
Assess Your Exposure and Vulnerabilities
Identify your main heat risks by mapping “hot zones” like west-facing walls or metal sheds and noting vulnerable points. Test generators and backups to ensure they can power essential cooling devices. In 2023, the U.S. grid reached a record demand, producing 1.6 times the world’s total nuclear output, highlighting how rapidly extreme heat strains infrastructure.
[Editor’s note: even a simple fan or two can do a lot to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. But they’ll do little good if you can’t power them. Decide how you might keep small appliances going, possibly even a window air conditioner, for several days during a lengthy power outage. At minimum, store enough gasoline to keep a vehicle running for house each day so you can run the car’s air conditioner if you had no other option.]
With about 17% of your power bill going to air conditioning, that dependence can turn risky during outages. Reducing reliance through passive cooling and off-grid systems can keep your shelter safe when the grid fails.
Adapt Your Storage, Supplies and Infrastructure
Heat doesn’t just threaten people — it can also destroy your supplies. Select items that can withstand high temperatures, such as shelf-stable food, heat-resistant batteries and medical supplies designed for warm conditions. Insulate storage areas or use thermal barriers to protect sensitive goods.
[Editor’s note: Absolutely consider how your storage items, especially food and medications, might be affected without central air conditioning. For us, our basement is the best option because it’s at least partially set into the ground. But if you live somewhere that gets really hot AND you don’t have a natural cooling mechanism like the ground, then you could have a real problem within several days of prolonged exposure. Even MREs won’t last long in extreme heat.]
Where possible, include backup ventilation fans or solar chimneys that can function during power loss. The best approach is to run stress tests: simulate a two-day heat wave, seal off your shelter and see how your cooling systems perform under real-world conditions.
[Editor’s note: I wouldn’t seal off anything. The idea is to consider how your living situation might function without central air conditioning. Usually, this means opening up windows and whatnot to allow for a breeze UNLESS you intend on actively cooling the area, such as with a window unit.]
Build Passive Cooling and Shading Systems
Investing in passive cooling is one of the smartest survival upgrades you can make. Install reflective roofing or light-colored coatings to reduce heat absorption, and add insulation wherever possible.
Vegetation also plays a powerful role — trees, vines and shade cloths can lower ambient temperatures significantly. Consider using thermal mass materials such as stone or concrete that absorb cooler night air and release it slowly during the day. Designate a “cool room” or shaded refuge, ideally in the lowest or most insulated part of your home or shelter, where you can retreat during the worst hours.
Use Forecasts and Alerts Wisely
Finally, make expert forecasts an integral part of your preparation cycle. Follow national weather alerts, local emergency notifications, and updates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or CDC.
Set your own alert hierarchy — perhaps “level 1” for heat advisories and “level 3” for emergency-level heat — so your family knows when to escalate measures. Treat every warning as an opportunity to rehearse your plan and refine what didn’t work last time.
[Editor’s note: Unfortunately, a massive heatwave coupled with a lack of power is a difficult scenario to test without willfully doing so as stated previously. At a minimum, consider what your reaction plans will be in such a scenario. That is, will you just spend a lot of time outdoors under a shade tree? What if that’s not good enough or you’re elderly or have a chronic conditions that might be exacerbated in the heat? Can you run a fan 24/7 for a week if you had to? Could you run an air conditioner long enough to cool a room in case somebody was having heat-related stress? Do you have plenty of water for you and extended family or friends and neighbors? These are the types of questions to ask and answer now before something happens.]
Stay Cool, Stay Ready
Climate-driven heat waves are intensifying and becoming less predictable, making preparedness your best defense. As a prepper, focus on readiness — reinforce shelters, secure water supplies and set clear heat protocols. Every degree matters when systems fail, so act now to build resilience before the next wave hits.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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