How Heat Waves and Microclimates Complicate Emergency Restoration
Believe it or not, heat waves kill more people in the U.S. than any other type of extreme weather. At least 1,300 heat-related fatalities occur in the US each and every year, and this number is likely increasing. This level of morbidity is obviously alarming, but a secondary issue is that extreme heat can also wreak havoc on outage restoration efforts.
Primer on Heat Waves
The definition of a heat wave varies. According to the World Meteorological Organization, a heat wave occurs after 5 straight days of temperatures 9 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. I’ve also seen it defined as 3 or more days in a row of temperatures exceeding 90 degrees F.
From a societal perspective, heat waves are most problematic for low-income people who cannot afford air conditioning. Without access to cooler air, exposure to extreme temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion, and ultimately heat stroke which can be fatal.
Adding to the variability of heat wave activity is the presence of microclimates in large urban areas. This essentially means that temperatures can vary from one block to the next depending on how buildings are positioned and structured as well as how much vegetation is present.
Approximately 30% of the global population live in areas prone to life-threatening temperatures. This percentage is expected to rise on the heels of global warming.
Challenges for Emergency Restoration
By far the biggest problem that heat waves create for restoration personnel relates to safety. As previously mentioned, extreme heat can cause illness and even death for crews working to restore power in hot and humid environments. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) exasperates the problem.
Similarly, high temperatures can lead to mental fatigue that could compromise decision making, potentially impacting safety in a negative way. Higher temperatures also increase the risk of fires, and can increase pollution and air contaminants that could cause respiratory issues.
Many outage-producing storms happen in the summer months, so heat wave protocols should be incorporated into your restoration plan. Restoration crews should be encouraged to stay hydrated, and avoid overextending themselves by trying to get things done too quickly.
They should also be trained to understand the increased fire risk, how to identify and react to a microclimate, and what to do if a crew member experiences a respiratory issue. Other potential considerations might be to increase breaks or reduce shift durations, and look for PPE that is more heat-friendly.
The bottom line is that heat waves are dangerous for the general population as well as restoration crews, and they must be taken very seriously.
