The Fifth Hurricane Hazard: A Case Study of Heat Risks Faced by Disaster Relief Workers After Hurricane Beryl's Landfall

Abstract

Hurricanes pose a wide range of health and safety threats, from wind and flooding to less recognized hazards such as heat stress. Although heat exposure has been documented after hurricanes, little research has examined how it affects disaster relief workers during recovery operations. This study evaluated the heat stress conditions faced by emergency response personnel deployed to southeastern Texas following Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, a period marked by prolonged power outages and extreme heat. Heat hazard scenarios were assessed for the Houston area using occupational exposure limits—the Recommended Alert Limit (RAL) and Recommended Exposure Limit—in combination with wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) data and factors like worker acclimatization status, work intensity, work/rest schedules, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Depending on the scenario, WBGT values exceeded critical safety thresholds throughout this period. For unacclimatized workers engaged in medium to very heavy labor with minimal rest, conditions exceeded the RAL between 74% and 100% of the time. Even heat acclimatized workers deployed outdoors would have faced considerable heat stress, especially during heavy work levels. The presence of restrictive PPE significantly increased heat stress, with all scenarios surpassing safety thresholds. These findings underscore the heightened vulnerability of disaster response personnel to heat-related health risks in the aftermath of hurricanes. Acclimatization, workload, rest breaks, and PPE use are key factors influencing heat health risks. Tailored heat mitigation strategies are needed to safeguard workers operating in high-pressure, resource-limited environments where standard workplace safety practices may be difficult to implement.