https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/08/31/hurricane-laura-heat-power-outages/
By Jason Samenow and
Ashley Cusick
August 31, 2020 at 5:50 p.m. EDT
Large portions of southwestern Louisiana remain without power four days after Hurricane Laura struck the region as the strongest storm on record for this part of the state, with gusts topping 150 mph. Now, the areas hit hardest are dealing with dangerous levels of heat and humidity that could last several more days, according to the National Weather Service.
One extreme weather event layered atop another makes the region’s arduous recovery process even more difficult. Many residents are without air conditioning and lack running water while stifling heat, among the most lethal weather hazards, takes hold.
The absence of basic services amid a punishing heat wave is made even more daunting by the novel coronavirus, which is keeping many residents at home or in shelters. Louisiana has seen 661 new cases in the past week alone, and the hurricane disrupted testing efforts.
•••••
On Monday, the Weather Service upgraded a heat advisory for extreme southwestern Louisiana, including Lake Charles and Cameron, to an excessive heat warning, cautioning that the combination of the heat and humidity would make it feel like 111 to 114 degrees outside.
“An Excessive Heat Warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur,” the Weather Service said. “The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a DANGEROUS SITUATION in which heat illnesses are likely. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”
The warning area also included counties in southeastern Texas along the Louisiana border that were seriously affected by Laura.
•••••
Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States in some years, and those without access to air conditioning are most vulnerable, especially older adults, those with preexisting medical conditions and the socially isolated.
The widespread power outages in extreme southwestern Louisiana and parts of Texas along the Louisiana border mean limited access to air conditioning. Compounding problems even more, some of these areas, including Lake Charles, lack access to running water, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency briefing for senior leadership obtained by The Washington Post.
•••••
To compensate for the lack of power, some residents were relying on generators, which can create a hazard if improperly installed. Eight people died of carbon monoxide poisoning in the hurricane’s wake.
•••••
Hydration is also critical for limiting heat stress and, according to the FEMA briefing, inoperable drinking facilities affected more than 140,000 customers in Louisiana and more than 12,000 in Texas as of midday Monday.
•••••
The heat spread over Texas on Friday, with most of the state enduring heat index values above 100 degrees, and then moved into Louisiana over the weekend. On Saturday, Dallas set a record high of 106 degrees.
On Monday, humidity levels were oppressive, with dew points, an indicator of humidity, climbing above 80 degrees in parts of southwestern Louisiana. Dew points over 70 degrees are considered uncomfortably humid. Anything above 80 is difficult to tolerate.
•••••
No comments:
Post a Comment