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2 Victims 3 Aggravating Factors 4 The Politics of Disaster 5 Prevention 6 External Links |
Weather
The temperatures soared to record highs in July with the hottest weather occurring from July 12-16th. The high of 106° F (41° C) on July 13th set the record for the warmest July temperature since records began at Midway Airport in 1928. Nighttime low temperatures were unusually high (upper 70s and lower 80s F - about 25°C) as well. Record humidity levels also accompanied the hot weather.
Victims
Most of the heat wave victims were the elderly poor living in the heart of the city, who either had no air conditioning or could not afford to turn it on. Many older citizens were also hesitant to open windows and doors at night for fear of crime. Elderly women were less vulnerable than elderly men. By contrast, in the heat waves of the 1930s, many residents slept outside in the parks or along the shore of Lake Michigan.
Aggravating Factors
A contributing factor in the heat wave is an effect called an urban heat island. Urban heat islands are caused by the concentration of buildings and pavement in urban areas, which tend to absorb more heat in the day and radiate more heat at night into their immediate surroundings than comparable rural sites. Therefore, built-up areas get hotter and stay hotter. Other aggravating factors were inadequate warnings, power failures, inadequate ambulance service and hospital facilities, and lack of preparedness. City officials did not release a heat emergency warning until the last day of the heat wave. Thus, such emergency measures as Chicago’s five cooling centers were not fully utilized. The medical system of Chicago was severely taxed as thousands were taken to local hospitals with heat-related problems. In some cases, fire trucks were used as substitute ambulances.
The Politics of Disaster
The scale of the human tragedy sparked denial in some quarters, grief and blame elsewhere. A thorough study of the sociology of this heat wave is "Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago" by Eric Klinenberg. Prevention
In future, heat wave deaths may be reduced or avoided by:
External Links