Heat deaths in U.S. homes undercounted, mobile trailers especially vulnerable

A joint investigation and Boston University puts the annual U.S. heat-related death toll at about 9,000, a figure five times higher than federal reports. The study identifies residents of manufactured housing as a high-risk group, with a mortality rate six to eight times that of occupants of traditional homes. Contributing factors include the prevalence of pre-1976 trailers with thin walls, leaky windows, outdated cooling systems, and limited shade, as well as financial barriers such as high electricity costs and difficulty obtaining mortgages for repairs.

The story of Sheri Petty, who died after her trailer’s cooling devices failed during a prolonged heat wave in Tucson, underscores the human cost. While Arizona agencies and charities have launched programs to upgrade insulation and provide bill assistance, demand outstrips supply, and many park owners restrict modifications. Experts argue that addressing indoor heat risk will require broader policy changes and expanded funding.