Chicago's post-1995 heat playbook faces a major test

Chicago's post-1995 heat playbook faces a major test

An extended stretch of dangerous heat is testing the emergency response system Chicago built after the deadly 1995 heat wave.

Why it matters: Multi-day heat waves are especially dangerous because warm overnight temperatures prevent the body from recovering, driving up illness and deaths among vulnerable people.

The latest: Daily highs are expected to be over 90° through at least Friday, with heat indices reaching 105°.

  • Some downstate locations are projected to reach 110°.

    • Case in point: The 1995 Chicago heat wave, considered one of the deadliest in U.S. history, lasted five days and caused 739 heat-related deaths.

  • Chicago officials have significantly expanded their heat preparedness efforts since then.

    • What they're saying: "Preparedness is key," the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's Theodore "Ted" Berger said in a release.

  • "Limit time outdoors during peak heat, check in on neighbors and those who may need extra assistance, and know where your local cooling centers are."

    • Zoom in: Cooling centers across Chicago have opened as the city has activated its heat response plan.

  • Some park district programs and outdoor camps have moved indoors, while municipalities are weighing changes to planned Fourth of July celebrations.

    • Flashback: After 1995, Chicago invested in trees, reflective roofs and other heat-mitigating infrastructure while requiring air conditioning in high-rise apartments.

  • Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration honored the 30th anniversary of the 1995 heat wave by introducing a Heat Vulnerability Index Report, which is a data-driven tool designed to identify which neighborhoods are most at risk during extreme heat events.
  • The idea is that resources can be allocated to those areas, but neighbors and environmental activists weren't convinced that the new tool would change anything.

    • The intrigue: One major failure in 1995 was the lack of communication between city agencies and residents. Today, the city has a comprehensive Heat Emergency Plan, coordinated through the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), created after the disaster.

  • OEMC coordinates with the National Weather Service and manages the opening of cooling centers, while also giving tips to residents.

    • Of note: When extended heat waves hit Midwestern states like Illinois or Iowa, humidity from crops, sometimes called "corn sweat," can make the heat feel even more oppressive.

    The bottom line: The legacy of 1995 means Chicago enters this heat wave far better prepared, but the coming days will show how well that playbook holds up against another prolonged stretch of dangerous temperatures.