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Model estimates heat deaths in Florida 40× CDC count

9/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. researchers estimate heat kills nearly five times more Americans than CDC’s official counts.
NPR and Boston University spent two years creating a county-level model to estimate heat-influenced deaths.
The model projects Florida suffers over 1,900 heat deaths annually, about 40 times the official tally.
Michigan’s estimate exceeds 100 heat deaths per year, ten times CDC’s reported figure.

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Story summary

U.S. researchers estimate heat kills nearly five times more Americans than CDC’s official counts.
NPR and Boston University spent two years creating a county-level model to estimate heat-influenced deaths.
The model projects Florida suffers over 1,900 heat deaths annually, about 40 times the official tally.
Michigan’s estimate exceeds 100 heat deaths per year, ten times CDC’s reported figure.