Posted on Jul 28, 2023
Kansas City's heat islands make these dangerous temperatures even worse for some residents
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Historic redlining and lack of green spaces in the Kansas City metro means that, even in the current heat wave, some people will experience temperatures at least 11 degrees warmer. These heat islands are driving up energy costs and causing public health concerns.
If you’ve stepped outside for even a brief moment in recent days, you have certainly felt Kansas City's scorching heat wave.
Temperatures are expected to remain at least in the high 90s for the next week, but temperatures are even higher in some parts of the city.
According to the Climate+Energy Project, this is because of the heat island effect: urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas, predominantly affecting areas with more buildings and less greenery to absorb and re-emit that heat.
In Kansas City, that also coincides with historically underserved communities that were subject to redlining. As a result, there is often more paved surfaces.
If you’ve stepped outside for even a brief moment in recent days, you have certainly felt Kansas City's scorching heat wave.
Temperatures are expected to remain at least in the high 90s for the next week, but temperatures are even higher in some parts of the city.
According to the Climate+Energy Project, this is because of the heat island effect: urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas, predominantly affecting areas with more buildings and less greenery to absorb and re-emit that heat.
In Kansas City, that also coincides with historically underserved communities that were subject to redlining. As a result, there is often more paved surfaces.
Kansas City's heat islands make these dangerous temperatures even worse for some residents
Posted from kcur.org
Kansas City
Energy
Health
Posted 9 mo ago
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I managed to get out briefly this week but today’s killer heat is hazardous to living. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."How to get help in heat waves
In Missouri, state law prevents service disconnection for nonpayment if the National Weather Service local forecast predicts that the temperature will rise above 95 degrees for the next day, or the heat index is predicted to rise above 105 degrees.
While Kansas does not have this same law, Gina Penzig, a spokesperson for Evergy, says they follow these same guidelines voluntarily in Kansas.
Evergy customers may also be eligible for payment plans and qualify for financial assistance.
Those on the Missouri side of the state line also have access to some efficiency programs through Evergy to help you make your home more energy efficient. A docket is pending before the Kansas Corporation Commission to determine whether some of those energy efficiency programs will be available to Kansans.
For people who meet a certain income guideline, the federal Weatherization Assistance Program can help determine what kind of measures to increase efficiency and decrease energy costs.
Residents who are having trouble accessing cool air in their homes also have access to Kansas City’s Healthy Homes Rental Inspection program. If you believe the heat in your apartment is unbearable or you think more could be done to cool off your building or unit, you can call the program for an inspection.
For those without access to an air-conditioned home, there are many cooling centers or splash parks around the metro you can access for free — as well as a number of pools that are open.
A boy plays in a fountain to cool off as temperatures approach 100 degrees Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. A heat wave is roasting much of the U.S. in recent days.
Bryan Beavers, an emergency medicine physician for the University of Kansas Health System, urged people to limit exposure outdoors in extreme heat. He said when the body gets into heat exhaustion, it starts to put stress on your internal organs.
If someone is feeling heat exhaustion, they have not yet crossed into that altered mental state, Beavers said. When someone is confused or delirious, that is heat stroke.
“The first thing is, you need to get out of the hot environment, if at all possible, and start drinking fluids to get cooled down,” he said. “If someone is to the point that they are vomiting, they really need to come to the emergency department because we're worried that they're not gonna be able to stay hydrated at that point.”"
..."How to get help in heat waves
In Missouri, state law prevents service disconnection for nonpayment if the National Weather Service local forecast predicts that the temperature will rise above 95 degrees for the next day, or the heat index is predicted to rise above 105 degrees.
While Kansas does not have this same law, Gina Penzig, a spokesperson for Evergy, says they follow these same guidelines voluntarily in Kansas.
Evergy customers may also be eligible for payment plans and qualify for financial assistance.
Those on the Missouri side of the state line also have access to some efficiency programs through Evergy to help you make your home more energy efficient. A docket is pending before the Kansas Corporation Commission to determine whether some of those energy efficiency programs will be available to Kansans.
For people who meet a certain income guideline, the federal Weatherization Assistance Program can help determine what kind of measures to increase efficiency and decrease energy costs.
Residents who are having trouble accessing cool air in their homes also have access to Kansas City’s Healthy Homes Rental Inspection program. If you believe the heat in your apartment is unbearable or you think more could be done to cool off your building or unit, you can call the program for an inspection.
For those without access to an air-conditioned home, there are many cooling centers or splash parks around the metro you can access for free — as well as a number of pools that are open.
A boy plays in a fountain to cool off as temperatures approach 100 degrees Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. A heat wave is roasting much of the U.S. in recent days.
Bryan Beavers, an emergency medicine physician for the University of Kansas Health System, urged people to limit exposure outdoors in extreme heat. He said when the body gets into heat exhaustion, it starts to put stress on your internal organs.
If someone is feeling heat exhaustion, they have not yet crossed into that altered mental state, Beavers said. When someone is confused or delirious, that is heat stroke.
“The first thing is, you need to get out of the hot environment, if at all possible, and start drinking fluids to get cooled down,” he said. “If someone is to the point that they are vomiting, they really need to come to the emergency department because we're worried that they're not gonna be able to stay hydrated at that point.”"
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