Cooling Gap: Why New Jersey's Heat Deaths Cluster Where Air Conditioning Doesn't Exist

New Jersey reported 22 heat deaths across 10 counties by July 5, 2026—the sharpest toll of any state during the U.S. heatwave. Most victims were found in homes lacking air conditioning, on streets, or in parked cars. The deaths expose a vulnerability: mortality from extreme heat concentrates not in traditionally hot regions but where infrastructure gaps leave populations exposed, regardless of geography or wealth level.