New York summer heat wave killed 140: health officials
Pastor Dale Morgan
New York summer heat wave killed 140: health officials*
NEW YORK, Nov 16 (AFP) Nov 16, 2006
A heat wave that hit New York in July and August left far more people
dead than previously thought, authorities said Thursday, with an
official report putting the number of dead at around 140.
The report from New York's health department found that the 10-day heat
wave killed 40 people through heatstroke but that an estimated 100
others likely died of natural causes attributable to the high temperatures.
Health officials had previously put the number of dead at 24.
The record temperatures saw the heat index, which takes humidity into
account, reaching 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius).
"Findings from this investigation suggest that encouraging friends and
family members to help relocate those at highest risk... might save
lives in future heat waves," the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
report said.
It particularly suggested relocating the elderly, who were the worst
affected. More than half of those who died of heatstroke were over 65.
The heat prompted city officials to declare a state of emergency for the
first time, fearing that demand for air conditioning would cause a blackout.
Officials ordered the lights on city landmarks like the Statue of
Liberty and the Empire State Building to be dimmed to conserve power.