Shorewood, Whitefish Bay Not Prepared for Deadly Heat Wave

The most weather-related deaths in Wisconsin in the past 50 years have been due to heat waves, according to TMJ4's Tom Murray, Storm Team 4.

In 1995 alone there were approximately 154 heat wave related deaths in Wisconsin. Right now with the latest heat wave we are enduring, there have been at least 13 heat wave related deaths in the Midwest. The forecast for today (Wednesday) is high in the 90's, with a heat index of 106 to 111. Tomorrow will also be in the 90's with a Heat Index of 97 to 102.

I think most of us are aware that heat waves like our current one can be fatal especially for vulnerable groups such as seniors, infants and those with medical conditions.

I wondered what "pro-active" plans the Northshore communities of Shorewood and Whitefish Bay had to deal with a deadly heat wave. I called the Village Managers' offices, the police departments, the Health Department, the Senior Resource Center and the libraries. Although I have not yet received return calls from all, I have heard from enough officials, that neither Shorewood or Whitefish Bay have any heat wave action plans! 

None!

Why don't the villages have a heat wave action plan?

Between the Health Deparment and the Senior Resource Center, a list of "at risk" seniors, infants and medically vulnerable folks could be compiled. Phone calls could be made to see if they are OK. If no answer, the police could do a stop and knock to check up on them.

Especially seniors, who may have an A/C broken down, or not even have A/C are perhaps the most vulnerable, as they do not necessarily have immediate caregivers.

Those at risk could be driven by volunteers to the libraries to cool off in the air conditioned environment. And the libraries could extend their hours to midnight for relief from the heat — or if warranted, stay open all night for people to come and go to get cooled off.

With our aging populations — why aren't our village officials taking the initiative on this kind of health concern? And, if our officials are not getting guidance from our Health Department, why do we need them? Maybe we should just subcontract the Milwaukee Health Department to cover our communities — they seem to be much more pro-active.

What do you think?