| Home > Resources > Leadership > Executive Summary > Case Studies Case Study 1995, Chicago Heat Wave Singles Out the Poor and the Isolated Between July 13 and July 20, Chicago experienced a record-breaking heat wave that claimed the lives of more than 700 people. Most victims were low-income elderly people who lived alone, were isolated from friends and family, and were left abandoned for days before being discovered. Seventy-three percent of the victims were age 65 or older, and the majority were African-American. The deaths were not caused by extreme temperatures alone; existing social conditions common to urban areas compounded the effects of the heat. A substantial number of seniors live alone in unsafe, decrepit, low-income housing in neighborhoods that have been abandoned by businesses, service providers, and many residents. These conditions create a culture of isolation and fear that discourages seniors from trusting neighbors or even leaving their homes. Thus, seniors were particularly vulnerable because of the fact that they are largely homebound, with no one checking in on them and nowhere to turn for help. Reference Klinenberg, Eric. (2002). Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. |
