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, it may feel hotter than usual, and it’s no coincidence.
Black people have experienced heat-related deaths more than other groups for decades, and from 2000-2012, nearly half of New York’s population that 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. More carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere, and this increased temperatures.
Urban heat islands expose us to extreme heat, compared to other communities. And with disproportionate exposure patterns worsening, we must take action.
We must properly educate ourselves on how to prepare for extreme heat conditions so that we can stay properly cooled down together. Ready.gov lists several ways we can better protect ourselves in extreme heat. Keep cool.