Jefferson County - East-West Gateway Coordinating Council

A Regional Overview All-Hazard Mitigation Plan 97
Intensity or Strength
Heat waves are sporadic phenomena that occur throughout the United States and
specifically the St. Louis metropolitan area. Frequency, intensity, and duration of heat
waves, however, vary drastically from year to year. The highest temperature documented
during the longest heat wave of 28 days was 108 degrees.
Lives Lost, Injuries, Property Damage, Economic Losses/Other Losses
Compared to other meteorological hazards that pose threats to property and human
health (e.g., floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes), heat waves rank first as the cause of
human mortality. Extremes of heat have a broad and far-reaching set of impacts on the
nation. These include significant loss of life and illness, economic costs in transportation,
TABLE J47 HEAT MORBIDITY IN ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN REGION
Year St. Louis City St. Louis County Outstate MO TOTAL
1989 13 0 5 18
1990 6 2 5 13
1991 4 4 2 10
1992 3 2 0 5
1993 4 1 1 6
1994 9 0 5 14
1995 26 6 18 50
1996 2 1 0 3
1997 5 1 3 9
1998 2 3 4 9
1999 38 5 29 72
2000 4 2 11 17
2001 10 7 17 34
2002 7 5 9 21
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Social Services City of St Louis Department of Health
agriculture, production, energy and infrastructure. In June to September 1980 the nation
saw a devastating heat wave and drought that claimed at least 1,700 lives and had
estimated economic costs $20 billion in 1980 dollars. Table J47 above and J48 below
identifies specific damages to the St. Louis metropolitan area.
TABLE J48 ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN REGION HEAT WAVES
1994 TO 2002 AND ASSOCIATED DAMAGES
Date Deaths Injuries Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
06/12/1994 4 55 0 50K
07/17/1995 20 225 75K 0.4M
07/28/1995 0 120 15K 25K