Transcript:
Climate change is causing more extremely hot days in many parts of the U.S., and a recent report highlights the danger that heat can pose to rural residents.
Grace Wickerson is with the Federation of American Scientists. She says many rural residents work outside in the hot sun.
And according to the analysis by her group and the nonprofit Headwaters Economics, people in rural areas are more likely to have chronic diseases or other preexisting conditions.
Wickerson: “As well as other risk factors like age that make them more vulnerable to the impacts of heat.”
And it can be hard for rural residents to find relief. Most live far away from a cooling center. And their homes tend to be older and difficult to keep cool.
On top of that, rural public health programs are often underfunded, and many rural hospitals have closed.
As the climate warms, heat waves are growing more severe.
Wickerson: “And they’re also happening more frequently. So, this is putting a lot of stress on people, infrastructure, and communities.”
But according to the report, there are ways to minimize the risks. For example, implementing workplace protections, funding rural health programs, and retrofitting homes can help keep people safe from heat.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
