'95 Chicago heat wave
Posted on April 23, 2007 - Filed Under Punch Forum |
Eduardo Pontaoe
23 April 2007
The heat wave hitting Chicago in 1995 was the worst in city history since records began in 1928. It was only four days of unrelenting heat from July 13th to the 16th that did damage most. The build-up of temperature started early and on July 13th the temperature reached 106 degrees F, the 14th 114, the 15th 99 and the 16th 94. At night 80 degrees flat which provided no relief from the heat.
The nature of the catastrophe and the inadequacy of the city which never had seen such magnitude of a disaster made people from the poor neighborhoods - the easy victims. Fear also added to the calamity, when people were hesitant to open windows and doors due to the perception of crime. Even the bad guys ran for cover. Nonetheless, it was so different from the heat waves of the 1930’s where people can go to the lake at night and cool off. Not this time around.
However, further scrutiny on what contributed to the heat wave, climatologists added something into the weather forecasting ballgame. A new factor evolved what they called, “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 less at night into their immediate surroundings. So, built-up areas get hotter and stay hotter.
Another cogent factor in the heat wave was that a temperature inversion grew over the city, and air stagnated. Humidity and air contaminants were ground level bound, and the air was calm and devoid of wind coming from Lake Michigan. In lieu of wind to stir the air, temperatures grew even hotter and without wind or rain homes and apartments became ovens.
Bizarre and painful may seems, it was a blessing in disguise. It prompted Chicago to modify its procedures in dealing with a monster. Early warning system was put in place…adequate ambulance services, hospital mobilization, establishment of cooling centers where people could stay, centralized telephone banks and how the utility companies especially electric can manage the overload. Every AC in the city was humming full blast. Some generating stations shut down when it couldn’t sustain demand.
It was so sad people dying without a fight. Of the 600 accounted for who died that particular week, figures show another 139 people died of heat wave related deaths in the projects.
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