There's no place in the US safe from the heat
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The Pacific Northwest heatwave in June 2021 was a mass casualty event, estimated to have caused around 600 deaths in Oregon and Washington alone. These extreme heat events are increasingly more frequent, longer in duration and more intense due to climate change. They are also compounded by the urban heat island (UHI) effect, where urban areas are hotter than surrounding rural and natural areas due to how cities are planned, built and operated.
Yet, the national perception of heat as a climate risk remains subdued compared with more visually dramatic hurricanes or wildfires. Heat is a silent and invisible killer and impacts the most marginalized and vulnerable communities. Heat also has real impacts and costs to infrastructure, economic productivity, vegetation and wildlife, and energy and water use.
Over the past year, our coverage of heat equity has focused mainly on the inequitable distribution of heat severity in the urban heat island effect in cities across the U.S. — revealing how the hottest land surface temperatures tend to be in the poorest communities and communities of color. However, individuals experience personal heat exposure throughout their day, not just at home, but also during transportation and at work and school.
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how the compounded and systemic heat inequities extend to many issues, including access to health care, quality housing, water and energy for indoor cooling. Heat risk is particularly high for the elderly, children and those with health conditions, like high blood pressure and breathing difficulties. Chronic diseases like diabetes and lung, heart and kidney disease can also be worsened by heat exposure.
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