The Chicago Heatwave

On July 12, 1995 a dangerous hot air mass settled over the city of Chicago. A heat advisory was issued that warned of an impending record-breaking heatwave. By the time it was over more than 700 people were dead.  Many of them were old, alone and poor.

For three days temperatures remained at 99 degrees or higher causing the deadliest weather event in Chicago’s history. 

Sources for this episode include:

Heatwave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago by Eric Klinenberg