Angelides: Schwarzenegger Should Declare Emergency
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides on Tuesday called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to declare a state of emergency to provide extra resources to address heat-related public health threats, the Los Angeles Times reports (Surdin/Lifsher, Los Angeles Times, 7/26).
A survey of coroners around the state found that as of Tuesday 53 to 57 deaths are under investigation as heat related. Officials said the length and unusually high temperatures of the heat wave -- which have reached more than 100 degrees for two weeks in some areas -- have created lethal conditions for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly (Bernstein/Covarrubias, Los Angeles Times, 7/26).
On Monday, Schwarzenegger ordered all state and local agencies to conserve energy and open cooling centers for people whose homes are too hot. The governor has not declared an emergency.
Department of Health Services officials said they are monitoring nursing homes, and state labor officials have issued alerts about hot weather safety (Surdin/Lifsher, Los Angeles Times, 7/26).