wherever you are, plan for increased weather variability: higher highs, lower lows, prolonged droughts, sudden floods, decreased predictability from historic models, and increased storm/precipitation intensity. everything is now on the table and the brightest minds/experts are both underfunded and having to improvise constantly. i'll tell you what events freak me out: these ones where some high pressure system becomes nearly stationary somewhere in the summer and lets the sun just broil everything there. like what happened in the PNW a year or so ago, which they called the "omega block",
i don't feel bad for people of means who are experiencing discomfort in this event. their privilege gave them access the information needed to act and the power to prepare. instead, they used that privilege to ignore climate change. nature doesn't knock and go away. it knocks once or twice and then breaks the door down.
i do feel bad for overworked people on the edge who are taking it on the chin. it's miserable. everyone around you is miserable. no one sleeps. they just pass out for a few hours and have weird, restless dreams before stirring awake, sweaty and unrested. blackouts and utility failures compound the stresses by taking out lights, fans, appliances for food, and communication abilities.
the veil of civil society fades for every second the people in power don't do harm reduction during these situations, like opening venues with good ventilation and backup power for people to gather, rest and receive basic attention, opening misting/cooling/hydration stations, helping people check on the elderly and others with limited mobility and making sure they know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke which can be deceptive.
wherever you are, plan for increased weather variability: higher highs, lower lows, prolonged droughts, sudden floods, decreased predictability from historic models, and increased storm/precipitation intensity. everything is now on the table and the brightest minds/experts are both underfunded and having to improvise constantly. i'll tell you what events freak me out: these ones where some high pressure system becomes nearly stationary somewhere in the summer and lets the sun just broil everything there. like what happened in the PNW a year or so ago, which they called the "omega block",
i don't feel bad for people of means who are experiencing discomfort in this event. their privilege gave them access the information needed to act and the power to prepare. instead, they used that privilege to ignore climate change. nature doesn't knock and go away. it knocks once or twice and then breaks the door down.
i do feel bad for overworked people on the edge who are taking it on the chin. it's miserable. everyone around you is miserable. no one sleeps. they just pass out for a few hours and have weird, restless dreams before stirring awake, sweaty and unrested. blackouts and utility failures compound the stresses by taking out lights, fans, appliances for food, and communication abilities.
the veil of civil society fades for every second the people in power don't do harm reduction during these situations, like opening venues with good ventilation and backup power for people to gather, rest and receive basic attention, opening misting/cooling/hydration stations, helping people check on the elderly and others with limited mobility and making sure they know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke which can be deceptive.