Many of us can remember the days of playing in the pool or at a fire hydrant gushing out water, trying to avoid the heat. But nowadays, as heat waves sweep across the nation due to climate changes, it feels hotter than usual. It’s no coincidence.
Black people have experienced heat-related deaths more than other groups for decades. For example, from 2000-2012, nearly half of New Yorkers who died from heat were Black.
Redlining and housing discrimination forced Black people to reside in neighborhoods that had fewer trees and green spaces and more traffic. These areas release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which increases temperatures.
Urban heat islands expose us to extreme heat compared to other communities. And with disproportionate exposure patterns worsening, we must take action.
Ready.gov lists several ways we can better protect ourselves in extreme heat. Let’s use this information to protect ourselves against urban heat islands, because we’re all we can depend on.