Extreme heat triggers emergency

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire

LSU’s latest class of freshmen was just settling into campus Aug, 14 when Louisiana’s governor issued a state of emergency over the extreme heat.

The Bayou State is used to high temperatures, but this summer has been abnormally hot. Baton Rouge was one area of the state to see two record-breaking months of heat in a row.

The heat killed at least 16 people in June and July, and those two months alone put more people in emergency departments for heat-related causes than the average year does.

“This declaration will allow the state to mobilize resources and aid those most affected,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “Please continue to take precautions when you are outside and check on neighbors who might need assistance.”

“A state of emergency is an administrative step that authorizes the use of state resources to aid in emergency response efforts,” according to the governor’s office. Updates will be provided by Edwards and the Governor’s see EXTREME HEAT, page 4 see AI, page 4