France Declares Emergency Heat Status in Half Its Regions—Here's What That Means

France put 54 of its 96 regions on the highest heat alert on June 23—more than double what was forecast. When a region hits this alert, emergency teams check on elderly people living alone, some workplaces close, and hospitals prepare extra resources. France rebuilt these systems after a deadly 2003 heatwave. Managing so many regions at once tests whether the system actually works.