Storms Are Getting Worse. What Does That Mean For Our Health?

As extreme weather events like heavy rains, flash floods and heat waves become more intense and frequent, checking the weather forecast means more than just knowing if you need an umbrella. Extreme weather is inextricably linked to our safety and well-being.

While western Pennsylvania is generally immune to some climate change-related hazards, such as hurricanes and wildfires, National Weather Service Director Ken Graham cited heavy rains and heat waves as the region's biggest challenges. Of course, there are other climate-related factors that can affect health, such as thermal disturbances, which trap air pollution at ground level.

Graham, who was in Pittsburgh the week of August 22 for the National Weather Service's annual conference, was previously director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's hurricane center when the organization ran out of hurricane names for 2020 and 2021. He worked for the weather service for 28 years and became its director in June.

Although the Pittsburgh area is far enough inland to avoid direct hits from hurricanes, it is sometimes swamped by rain from the foothills of east coast storms. In 2011, a devastating flood struck and four Pittsburgh residents drowned. To prevent a recurrence, the city installed gates on Washington Boulevard near Negley Run Boulevard just north of Larimer. Road sensors near the locks are said to detect excess water and lower the gate arms to block traffic, but they don't always work properly.

The gate failed in August 2016, trapping several people in their cars. In June 2018 they failed again. Former public safety director Wendell Hisirich called the failure the last straw and said he was kept up at night fearing the gate leaves would not lower properly in heavy rain. Hisrich called for an overhaul of the system to introduce more consistent technology.

After a successful test in March 2021 and a successful implementation a year later in May 2022, when doors were lowered and vehicles prevented from moving on flooded roads, the locks appeared to be working normally.

Daryl Jones, Pittsburgh's emergency management coordinator, said he's focused on the new gateway technology since being called to the position in January. The city's Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is also working to provide grants to mitigate the effects of landslides caused by heavy rains in the city.

Both Jones and Graham said knowing your risks is an important component of staying safe during extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods. For example, if you live near a river or in a flood area, it's a good idea to evacuate your home's furniture and appliances to protect them from water damage. Some residents may need to purchase flood insurance depending on where they live.

Dan Palka is particularly concerned about the risk of flooding for people living in urban tent cities, which are often located on river banks. Palka is the executive director of the ROOTS organization at the AHN Center for Inclusive Health. Also known as the City Street Medicine and Health Program, ROOTS was funded by the City of Pittsburgh.

Flooding could destroy the property of people living along the river and make their homes unsafe, he said. "One time I had to wake someone up in Son Wharf because their business had literally been washed away and they were half submerged," Polka recalls.

ROOTS' primary mission is to keep people alive and safe outdoors, exposed to the elements. The team gave out hand warmers and socks in winter and gallons of water in the heat. They have a physical office on Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh and hope to open more locations soon. At Smithfield Clinic, AHN staff are trained professionals who help nurture and connect visitors to health resources and social services. Visitors can come to swim, stock up, or escape the heat.

The dangers of the heat

Graham called heat an "underrated killer" and urged people to take it seriously. The number of extreme heat events in Allegheny County has increased since the health department began collecting data in 2013, with 29 extreme heat events reported in 2018.

Heatwaves disproportionately affect the elderly, low-income people and the homeless in the so-called urban heat island; These heat islands tend to get hotter than greener, shady areas and also take longer to cool. Many people living in urban heat islands may not have air conditioning, increasing the risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

In 2020, ROOTS installed large plastic tanks called water buffalo, as well as gallon jugs for the campers. Their main goal was to improve sanitation during the pandemic by installing hand washing stations and portable toilets next to these water tanks.

Still, many thanked him for providing clean water, Palka said. "I understand why we didn't have that before. It's a human right," he said. In the past, some homeless people would fill "big drink" glasses with ice and wait for the ice to melt as a source of drinking water, making a better and more reliable water supply during heat waves desirable.

Heat death does not always occur immediately. Graham warned that emergencies can occur days or weeks after a heat event as heat illnesses are on the rise. In addition, due to global warming, nighttime temperatures are not dropping as much as before, which means that the body does not rest and recover after hot days.

Graham recommends dressing lightly, staying hydrated, and visiting a cooling center during heat waves to stay safe. Jones said almost all of Pittsburgh's recreation and care facilities could turn into cooling centers during a heat wave. As temperatures soar above 90 degrees Fahrenheit in July, the city sets up cooling centers at Community Active Health Centers in Brighton Heights, Greenfield, Homewood, Sheraden and South Side Market.

storm danger

Typically, many weather-related deaths are not caused by hurricanes. In 2017, Category 4 Hurricane Irma struck Florida, destroying homes, trees, and power lines. Although the storm devastated many communities, most deaths were not caused by the storm; In fact, more deaths have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

A total of 16 people died from gas poisoning from the generators installed in their homes. Having a generator in your home, garage, or even outside your home can create dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Some accidents are also due to electrocution and misuse of tools such as chainsaws. If you are using such devices for the first time during or after a weather event, it is best to wait until an expert can safely handle the situation.

"Extreme heat and cold make any chronic illness worse," says Paulka. In the case of Hurricane Irma, most of the deaths from the storm were caused by pre-existing conditions such as stress or lack of access to medical care.

"It's a measure of how much social capital you have in your community and your ability to cope with events in general," Paulka said. And more extreme weather events in western Pennsylvania will affect everyone, not just some groups.

Roads can be icy during the day and snow can disrupt normal traffic. It is important not to take risks and be prepared for possible unforeseen events. But Graham says that one of the most important ways citizens can help protect themselves and spread the right message is by acknowledging that climate change is real and is going nowhere.

(c) 2022 Pittsburgh Official Gazette

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Quote: The storm is increasing. What does this mean for our health? (2022, September 5). Retrieved September 12, 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-09-storms-worse-health.html.

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