***The “brutal heat wave” involves high temperatures in the 101-103 neighborhood.***
I remember in 1984 the temp got up to 116 F in NE Oklahoma!
And in 2006, I had to work out all day in temps up to 110 with NO SHADE.
When we were dragged kicking and screaming from the High Plains (10-25% humidity) to the Ozarks our first job was picking beans (Penny a pound)in a field with 102 degrees and about 70% humidity. Thought I was gonna die.
The hottest I recall in humid North Carolina from my childhood without air conditioning was 107. It was not unusual to be in the high 90’s but breaking a hundred was, and going several degrees above that was practically unheard of. Fortunately, the house was shaded by large oaks, and it had a whole house attic fan. Still hot but we made it through OK. You get acclimated after a while, it was only miserable when a thunderstorm came up and the windows were closed. If we had been in a house with no shade trees or an apartment with no cross-ventilation from open windows, it would no doubt have been a different matter, like an oven in there. I’m glad for A/C, life is much more comfortable with it than without. But, if I had to do without again, I’d have a house that is well-shaded in summer, plenty of windows, narrow enough for cross-ventilation and a whole-house attic fan.