Severe California Heatwave Kills People, Livestock and Crops
Posted on July 31, 2006
The heat wave that struck California last week was unprecedented in California's history. Here are some highlights that show the serious impact the severe heat wave had on humans, animals and crops in the region.
This is really terrifying. Should global warming continue to make longer-lasting and more intense heat waves as is expected it could seriously impair our food supply by both killing livestock and damaging crops. The heat wave is expected to travel east this week.
Experts believe this is just a sign of things to come thanks to global warming. New data has also found that an average of 900 people per year have been killed in the U.S. because of heat between 1999 and 2003.
George Luber, an epidemiologist who studies heat wave deaths for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says the current situation is on track to be "the most active one that I can recall" in terms of heat deaths.It does look like heat-related deaths will be up this year. It is only August 1st and a significant heat wave is now threatening the Midwest and the East Coast. Chicago has already reported new deaths from this heat wave. The scary thought is what will the death tolls from heat waves for both humans and livestock be like in ten or twenty years?A new analysis by Luber this week shows that between 1999 and 2003, the United States averaged nearly 900 heat-related deaths each year. This year, with 132 reported in central California alone, could be worse, he said.
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