Amid scorching temperatures, Houston, Texas, has reported its first heat-related death of the year. Victor Ramos, 67, tragically lost his life after being found unresponsive in his non-air-conditioned home. Ramos, who had recently lost his job, couldn't afford to fix his air-conditioning unit, making him vulnerable to the extreme heat. The scorching temperatures have been linked to 13 deaths in Texas this year.
The Impact of Sweltering Heat in Houston
While Houston may not have reached 100 degrees frequently this summer, temperatures have consistently been 2 to 4 degrees above average since June 1. On the day of Ramos' death, the temperature was 95 degrees in Houston. The southwest Houston resident became the city's first heat-related death of the year. He was found unresponsive in his non-air-conditioned home, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead on June 24.
Ramos' sister, Karla Ramos, shared that he had expressed not feeling well earlier in the day. Unfortunately, he had recently lost his job and was unable to afford repairs for his air-conditioning unit, making him more vulnerable to extreme heat. The Gulf Coast region's combination of heat, sunshine, and high humidity increases the risk of heat-related illnesses. Air conditioning is crucial in urban areas to mitigate excessive heat buildup.