1966 – esp. late June-mid-July, excessive heat/heat wave esp. St. Louis area, IL, NYC– 613

— 613 Blanchard tally based on State and locality breakouts below.
— 531 USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Volume II – Mortality, Part A. 1968, p. I-85.
— >200 by July 15. AP. “At Least 200 Dead From Protracted Heat.” 7-15-1966, Corsicana.
— >106 by July 14. AP. “Storms Bring…Brief Relief…Heat Wave Keeps Beating US.” 7-14-1966.

Summary of State Breakouts below:

Alabama ( 8) Utah ( 2)
Arizona ( 8) Virginia ( 4)
Arkansas ( 15) Washington ( 1)
California ( 18) West Virginia ( 1)
Connecticut ( 2) Wisconsin ( 8)
Delaware ( 1) Wyoming ( 1)
District of Columbia ( 1)
Florida ( 7)
Georgia ( 2)
Illinois ( 70)
Indiana ( 13)
Iowa ( 14)
Kansas ( 9)
Kentucky ( 6)
Louisiana ( 3)
Maryland ( 1)
Michigan ( 2)
Minnesota ( 7)
Mississippi ( 5)
Missouri ( 286)
Nebraska ( 10)
Nevada ( 1)
New Jersey ( 9)
New York, NYC ( 34)
North Carolina ( 1)
North Dakota ( 1)
Ohio ( 10)
Oklahoma ( 4)
Pennsylvania ( 15)
Rhode Island ( 2)
South Carolina ( 3)
South Dakota ( 1)
Tennessee ( 20)
Texas ( 18)
Breakout of Excessive Natural Heat Deaths by State (and locality when noted)

Alabama ( 8) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-169.
–2 Jefferson County. Heat prostration. Decatur Daily, AL. “Thermometer.” 7-15-1966, p. 2.

Arizona ( 8) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-169.

Arkansas ( 15) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-176.

California ( 18) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-176.
–1 edge of Death Valley. Dehydration and exposure; USA 2nd Lt. Arthur Rowland Jr., 25.

Connecticut ( 2) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-177.

Delaware ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-177.

District of Columbia ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-184.

Florida ( 7) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-184.
–3 Miami, July 11. Heat stroke; children left by mother in “oven-hot” car; windows up.

Georgia ( 2) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-185.

Illinois ( 70)
–1,148 July. Noji, Eric K. (Ed.). The Public Health Consequences of Disasters. 1997, p250.
— 70 USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-192.
— 53 AP. “Heat Deaths Hit 149 in St. Louis.” Maryville Daily Forum, MO, 7-18-1966, p.1.
–28 Madison County
–25 St. Clair County
— 38 by July 15. AP. “At 0Least 200 Dead From Protracted Heat.” Corsicana Light, 7-15-1966, 1.
— 33 by July 14. AP. “Storms Bring Only Brief Relief as Heat Wave Keeps Beating U.S.” 7-14-1966.
— 1 Alton, July 14. Heat prostration; Mrs. Minnie Thrush, 84 (according to Coroner).

Indiana ( 13) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-192.

Iowa ( 14) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-193.

–1 Burlington, July 13. Heat prostration, Julian S. Burch, 66.

Kansas, Hutchinson ( 9) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-193.
— 6 Hutchinson, Broadacres Nursing Home, July 1-14. Hutchinson News, KS. 7-31-1966, p. 1.

Kentucky ( 6) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-193.

Louisiana ( 3) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-200.

Maryland ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-201.

Michigan ( 2) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-201.

Minnesota ( 7) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-208.
–1 Pine City, July 12. Heat stroke; Dean M. Mudgett, 16, working in a hay barn; coroner source.

Mississippi ( 5) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-208.

Missouri, St. Louis ( 286)
–618 Schuman. “Patterns of Urban Heat-Wave Deaths…NY…St. Louis…July 1966.” P. 62
–286 Henschel. “An Analysis of the Heat Deaths in St. Louis…July, 1966.” Dec 1969, p.2235.
–246 heat listed as primary cause of death on death certificate
— 40 heat listed as a contributing factor to the cause of death on the death certificate
–186 USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-209.
–149 by July 18. AP. “Heat Deaths Hit 149 in St. Louis.” Maryville Daily Forum, MO, 7-18-1966, p1.
–96 MO
–53 IL
–147 by July 16 AP. “St. Louis Cools; Toll From Heat Hits 146.” Des Moines Register, 7-17-1966, 7C.
–145 by July 15. AP. “Heat Wave Shows Signs of Easing.” Courier-Express, Dubois PA. 7-16-1966, 1.
–136 by July 16. AP. “St. Louis Cooler; Death Toll 146.” San Antonio Express-News, TX, 7-17-1966, 10B.
–124 by July 15. “In St. Louis and surrounding areas…124 heat-attributed deaths…since…Friday.”
— 96 by July 18. AP. “Heat Deaths Hit 149 in St. Louis.” Maryville Daily Forum, MO, 7-18-1966, p1.
–90 St. Louis
— 5 St. Louis County
— 1 Jefferson County, southwest and bordering St. Louis County
— 85 by July 15. AP. “Cold Front Chases Off Heat Wave.” Evening Tribune, MN, 7-15-1966, 1
— 75 by July 15. AP. “At Least 200 Dead From Protracted Heat.” Corsicana Light, 7-15-1966, 1.
— 54 by July 14. AP. “Storms Bring Only Brief Relief as Heat Wave Keeps Beating U.S.” 7-14-1966.

Nebraska ( 10) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-209.
–2 Lincoln, July 12-13. Coroner reported two elderly women died from heat strokes.

Nevada ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-217.

New Jersey ( 9) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-217.

New Mexico ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-217.

New York, NYC ( 34)
–1,181 Schuman. “Patterns of Urban Heat-Wave Deaths…NY…St. Louis…July 1966.” P62
— 34 USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-217.
— 17 NYC, July 4-10. AP. “Storms Bring Only Brief Relief as Heat Wave Keeps Beating U.S.” 7-14-1966.
— ? NYC, July 1-14. Des Moines Register, IA. “Heat Deaths,” 7-19-1966, p. 1.

North Carolina ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-224.

North Dakota ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-224.

Ohio ( 10) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-225.

Oklahoma ( 4) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-232.

Pennsylvania ( 15) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-232.

Rhode Island ( 2) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-232.

South Carolina ( 3) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-233.

South Dakota ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-233.

Tennessee ( 20) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-233.
–1 Knoxville, July 13. Heat prostration; Melvin Crouse, 46, taken to VA hospital where he died.

Texas ( 18)
–18 USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-240.
— 1 Wichita Falls, Jul 20. Brownwood Bulletin TX. “Heat Wave Causes Death,” 7-21-1966, 1

Utah ( 2) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-240.

Virginia ( 4) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-241.

Washington ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-241.

West Virginia ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-248.

Wisconsin ( 8) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-248.

Wyoming ( 1) USPHS. Vital Statistics of…US 1966: Vol. II – Mortality. 1-249.

Narrative Information

Schuman : Patterns of urban heat wave deaths in New York and St. Louis during July 1966 indicate not only the impact of environmental stress on heat-susceptible segments of the population but provide clues to the possible prevention of such deaths. While mortality from all causes increased by 36% in New York and by 56% in St. Louis certain subgroups were at substantially higher risk (persons over age 65; census tract residents with low income, crowding, or poor housing; those with hypertensive, arteriosclerotic, cardiovascular, or other circulatory disease, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease). The oppressiveness of heat waves in cities is emphasized by increased rates of homicide and by clashes with police in the streets. On the brighter side, pediatric deaths were controlled during heat episodes in both cities, suggesting that medical, social, and environmental measures can intervene. Unless the general approach to urban heat waves becomes prospective rather than retrospective, one can anticipate episodes of excess mortality during the summers of the 1970’s with a human cost of about 136 excess deaths per million per week of heat stress.” (Schuman abstract, p. 59.)

“The summer of 1966 proved that heat waves (episodes of sustained high temperatures with or without high humidity) in U. S. cities are not a thing of the past, but a recurrent meteorological fact. That significant numbers of persons died during the heat wave in many U. S. cities indicates our failure to develop effective preventive measures for some heat-susceptible segments of our urban populations, and our failure to anticipate the consequences of heat stress in making our cities more livable and more healthful.” (Schuman introduction, p. 59.)

“The method of excess mortality was developed by epidemiologists during the twenties to assess the impact of epidemics of influenza on populations and to derive ongoing expected curves of mortality which would give the health officer a baseline on which to plot weekly reported deaths (Serfling, 1963 ).”

“….in New York during one 12-month period there were four periods when the death rate seemed to exceed expectation: mid-April, early June, July, and November of 1966. The largest rise was accompanied by 2 weeks of excessive heat described by the U. S. Weather Bureau as “the result of a merger of three extraordinary high pressure systems that cover the central part of the nation, the Eastern Pacific and the Central Atlantic areas-a coincidence that amounts to a meteorological conspiracy to maintain unrelenting hot weather here… …. The small April rise and June rise are brief, not sustained, and not easily explained. The November curve illustrates a well-known episode of 4 days of air pollution which occurred during the Thanksgiving holiday in New York…. (p. 60.)

“….Defining a “heat wave” requires that some description and interrelation be made between the meteorological features and the mortality features of the episode. The more precise the definition of the heat episode is in terms of days of record heat, or of comfort-index days above a certain level, or of rises of mortality above a certain percentage, the more consistent is the methodology. On the other hand, we are only on the threshold of measurement in the sense that we do not know as yet how many times in several recent summers has a given city experienced heat episodes without a concomitant rise in mortality; only the noteworthy episodes are recorded or studied. From the viewpoint of prevention, the well-documented “escape” of an urban population from heat-wave conditions should be of equal interest to the “failure” of such a population to cope with heat stress.” At the present level of surveillance of heat-related deaths in U. S. cities, there is little risk of over-reporting; only occasionally does the National Center for Disease Control note the rise in mortality in early or late summer which affects groups of reporting cities which the epidemiologists are following primarily for signs of epidemic influenza. Given that we have a relatively small sample of heat episodes in large cities for study, what new information can be gained that might be of use in considering recommendations for prevention?” (p. 61.)

“The definition of the heat-episode period is arbitrarily selected to in elude 14 days in New York (July 2-15) and 4 weeks in St. Louis (July 2-29)…” (pp. 61-62)

“The major finding in Table I is that approximately 1181 persons in New York and 618 persons in St. Louis died during the heat episode who would have lived beyond the summer of 1966. One may ask, how many of these deaths may be directly attributed to heat? In St. Louis some 130 of the deaths were assigned to the international category E931 (death due to excessive heat and insolation) but in New York only a handful of deaths were so coded, preference being assigned in New York to underlying circulatory and degenerative conditions. If one accepts the usefulness of the method of excess mortality (as influenza epidemiologists have found over the years) one can overlook differing customs of health departments and practicing physicians in coding deaths and concentrate on the distinct patterns of mortality in the available data….” (p. 62.)

Smith: “Mortality tends to be highest in the first heat wave of the season before acclimatization. One example was in Illinois in July 1966 where a 36 per cent increase in deaths was recorded over a five-day period (Bridger and Helfand, 1968).” (Smith, Keith. Environmental Hazards. 1968, 16).” (p. 59)

Newspapers

June 25: “….To the east, across a broad section of the nation stretching to the Atlantic Coast, a heat wave entered its sixth day….” (AP. “Storms Along Slow Moving Cool Front.” Stevens Point Daily Journal, WI, 6-25-1966, p. 2.)

July 1: “Heat Wave Jams Coney Island.” Bucks County Courier, Bristol, PA, 7-1-1966, p. 1.

July 3: “A searing heat wave, closing out its second week with 100-degree temperatures, set records Saturday [July 2] from Baltimore to Buffalo….The high of 94 at Buffalo, N.Y., broke a 35-year-old record for the date. Harrisburg, Pa., had a record high of 101. Baltimore, Md., had a record high of 99. The high of 100 degrees at New York City tied a record set 65 years ago. The high of 97 at Pittsburgh, Pa., tied a 1931 record. For the second time in nine years the mercury reached 100 degrees at Philadelphia, Pa.

“At Brooklyn, N.Y., the heat caused the Mill Basin Bridge to become stuck in the open position, closing the busy Belt Parkway. At Madison, Wis., record demand for water lowered reserves for fire protection and city officials asked residents to drastically curb water use….

“Tropical easterly winds, blowing 1,000 miles north of their normal channels, sent temperatures into the 90s as far north as Hudson’s Bay….

“The early summer heat wave continued yesterday [at Zanesville] with the official temperature at the city airport being 95 degrees. However, a reading of 99 was reported in downtown Zanesville at 3 p.m. No relief is in sight as the official forecast was sunny and hot through Monday….” (United Press International. “Marks Set In East By Heat Wave.” The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. 7-3-1966, p. 1.)

July 4: “By United Press International. Thunderstorms and gusty winds pounded toward the Atlantic coast today, ending a long siege of blistering summer heat which rewrote the record books. In a fiery Fourth of July finish, the heat wave pushed temperatures past the 100-degree mark for the third straight day Monday in the mid-Atlantic states. An estimated 1,300,000 persons jammed the Coney Island beach in New York City.

“New record highs for the date were established at Philadelphia, with a 103 reading, Baltimore with 100 and Wilmington, Del., with 102. The mercury hit 104 at Harrisburg, Pa., for the third consecutive day. New York City, which broiled under an all-time high of 107 on Sunday, enjoyed a ‘cool’ high of 98 Monday [July 5]….

“New York City hospitals reported numerous cases of heat prostration during the hot spell, which saw temperatures climb past 100 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. The heat buckled roads and railroad tracks and even jammed a drawbridge when the metal expanded.” (United Press International. “Blistering Heat Hits East Coast.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 7-5-1966, p. 7.)

July 19: “New York (AP) – The death rate in New York rose 30 to 40 per cent above normal during the heat wave the first two weeks of this month, the city Health Department reports. The department’s statistical director, Louis Weiner, said Monday that department records do not list heat itself as a cause of death. But he said the heat aggravated the conditions of the sick. ‘We expected 3,175 deaths during the weeks between July 2 and July 15,’ he said. ‘During those weeks we hot reports of 4,299.’” [1,125 “excess” deaths]

Sources:

Alton Evening Telegraph, IL. “Weather Simmers Down.” 7-15-1966, p. 1. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/alton-evening-telegraph-jul-15-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “At Least 200 Dead From Protracted Heat.” Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light, TX, 7-15-1966, p. 1. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/corsicana-semi-weekly-light-jul-15-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Car Heat Tied to Death of 3.” Ogden Standard-Examiner, UT. 7-15-1966, 4A. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ogden-standard-examiner-jul-15-1966-p-4/

Associated Press. “Cold Front Chases Off Heat Wave.” Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, MN, 7-15-1966, p. 1. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/albert-lea-evening-tribune-jul-15-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Death Believed Due to Heat Wave.” Evening Tribune, Albert Lee, MN, 7-15-1966, p. 1. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/albert-lea-evening-tribune-jul-15-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Friend Dead. Man Sought In Desert.” Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, TX. 8-25-1966, 8A. Accessed 5-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lubbock-avalanche-journal-jul-25-1966-p-8/

Associated Press. “Heat Deaths Hit 149 in St. Louis.” Maryville Daily Forum, MO, 7-18-1966, p1. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/maryville-daily-forum-jul-18-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Heat Wave Shows Signs of Easing.” Courier-Express, Dubois, PA. 7-16-1966, p.1. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubois-courier-express-jul-16-1966-p-1/

Associate Press. “St. Louis Cooler; Death Toll 146.” San Antonio Express-News, TX, 7-17-1966, 10B. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-express-and-news-jul-17-1966-p-25/

Associated Press. “St. Louis Cools; Toll From Heat Hits 146.” Des Moines Register, 7-17-1966, 7C. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/des-moines-register-jul-17-1966-p-7/

Associated Press. “Storms Along Slow Moving Cool Front.” Stevens Point Daily Journal, WI, 6-25-1966, p. 2. Accessed 4-29-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/stevens-point-daily-journal-jun-25-1966-p-2/

Associated Press. “Storms Bring Only Brief Relief as Heat Wave Keeps Beating U.S.” El Dorado Times, AK, 7-14-1966, p. 1. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/el-dorado-times-jul-14-1966-p-2/

Associated Press. “Heat Killed Him.” Austin Daily Herald, MN, 7-15-1966, p. 3. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-herald-jul-15-1966-p-3/

Brownwood Bulletin, TX. “Heat Wave Causes Death,” 7-21-1966, 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=132737044&sterm

Bucks County Courier, Bristol, PA. “Heat Wave Jams Coney Island.” 7-1-1966, p. 1. Accessed 4-29-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bristol-bucks-county-courier-jul-01-1966-p-1/

Burlington Hawk-Eye, IA. “‘Cool Spell Brief.” 7-14-1966, p. 1. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-hawk-eye-jul-14-1966-p-1/

Decatur Daily, AL. “Thermometer.” 7-15-1966, p. 2. Accessed 4-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/decatur-daily-jul-15-1966-p-2/

Des Moines Register, IA. “Heat Deaths,” 7-19-1966, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=118474600&sterm

Environmental Data Service, Asheville, NC (US Dept. of Commerce). Storm Data, Vol. 8, No. 7, July 1966. Accessed 4-29-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-73C74E6F-3507-4A99-A11A-ED064C5C8992.pdf

Henschel, Austin, et al. “An Analysis of the Heat Deaths in St. Louis During July, 1966.” American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 59, No. 12, Dec 1969, p. 2235. Accessed 11-26-2013 at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1226805/pdf/amjphnation00054-0104.pdf

Hutchinson News, KS. “Broadacres Directors Submit Resignation.” 7-31-1966, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=163365007&sterm

Noji, Eric K. (Ed.). The Public Health Consequences of Disasters. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Salt Lake Tribune, UT. “Heat Kills 3 More [at St. Louis],” 7-19-1966, p. 5. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=100478408&sterm

Schuman, Stanley H. “Patterns of Urban Heat-Wave Deaths and Implications for Prevention: Data from New York and St. Louis During July, 1966.” Environmental Research, Vol. 5, 1972, pp. 59-75. Accessed 11-26-2013 at: http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/34139/0000423.pdf?sequence=1

Smith, Keith. Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster (4th ed.). London: Routledge, 1991. Google digital preview at: http://books.google.com/books?id=t_Dinlc-mlEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

United Press International. “Blistering Heat Hits East Coast.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 7-5-1966, p. 7. Accessed 4-29-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-pharos-tribune-jul-05-1966-p-7/

United Press International. “Marks Set In East By Heat Wave.” The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. 7-3-1966, p. 1. Accessed 4-29-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-times-recorder-jul-03-1966-p-1/

United States Public Health Service, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Vital Statistics of the United States 1966: Volume II – Mortality, Part A. Washington: GPO, 1968. Accessed 4-29-2022 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/mort66_2a.pdf