Heat Waves

Summer is here and heat waves are sure to come. It is already hot along the Gulf Coast, in Houston and the broader Southwest with temperatures of over 100 degrees being recorded.

 There isn’t one area of our nation or the world that is immune from having extreme heat. Even though today, June 2nd in the Pacific Northwest, where I live, the temperature was 64 with drizzle all day long.  Three years ago, 25-30 June sent temperatures soring over 100 degrees. For those of you who live in a much warmer climate, you have to realize that 70 degrees is warm, 80 degrees is hot, 90 degrees is sizzling for those of us not used to very warm temperatures. Hundreds of people died from that heat wave of direct and indirect causes.  

Which brings me to India and their record high of 126 degrees last week. Our bodily systems cannot function at those temperatures and they had scores of heat injuries and deaths being recorded.

While it is typical for emergency managers to get ready for flood season or winter storms, heat is the topic that should be on everyone’s radar right now and what plans you have in place to face the eventual challenges of a heat wave in your community.

Lastly, even when a heat wave ends, and cooler temperatures come to be, don’t let your guard down. Heat injuries can continue immediately after the heat wave.