Commonwealth_ Millions of Americans are being exposed to nature’s hazards, from poisonous heat and polluted air to rain and flooding. With Canadian wildfire smoke continuing to flow south, air quality throughout the entire United States surprisingly worsened, with the Upper Midwest and Northeast suffering the most.
A poor air quality advisory is issued in New York State as it will be poor on Monday. Canadian smoke from forest fires will move into New York City, state Department of Environmental Conservation officials said, and they will put out a public health advisory. The air quality index will be 101 to 150, or in the “Level Orange” category. This group is unhealthy for susceptible individuals like those with respiratory diseases like asthma, cardiovascular or lung disease patients, individuals over the age of 65 years, individuals under the age of 14 years, pregnant women, and employees that are exposed to the external environment.
Though all these would not inconvenience healthy people too much, the weaker sections of society are requested to cut down on their outdoor activities and use protective wear against any symptom resulting from exposure to air pollution. Precaution is the wisest thing to do with deteriorating air quality from the smoke.
The air wasn’t healthy to breathe in the Northeast and Upper Midwest by Sunday afternoon. The worst air was in East Wisconsin and Michigan. Nine states and several big cities were under air quality alert, including Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Burlington, Vermont. This indicates the extent to which the smoke has penetrated, as shifting winds are carrying it away from existing fires in Canada.
While the Midwest is a problem in itself, so is the Southeast. Flash flood alerts have been issued to around 13 million individuals, including those in Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Tallahassee. A locked-in storm system is dumping rain on the region, and 2-5 inches of rain is on the way with scattered totals up to 8 inches. These flash floods are perilous, especially for urban and low-lying areas.
From Colorado to West Texas, across the high plains in the centre of the nation, nearly 1 million people face danger from the severe storms. The storms will produce enormous hail and destructive gusts of wind, and property loss in terms of power outages is also imminent. The emergency crews are warning those who reside in the aforementioned areas to be ready and watchful for the weather to turn very abruptly.
In the south and west, record-breaking heat prevails across most of the Southwest, Texas, and Florida. The heat has prompted over 14 million residents in Miami, Arizona, and California to take precautions. Heat indices will barely exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit in Miami, Texas, and the entire Southwest, with the possibility of some reaching 110 to 115 degrees. These temperatures also pose a high risk of heat illness, particularly for vulnerable subpopulations such as the elderly, very young children, and individuals with certain underlying health conditions.
State health officials are urging people living in the affected zones to consume copious amounts of water, avoid going out during the hottest time of the day, and check on neighbours who are at high risk. Relief and cooling centres have been implemented in several states for relief.
The wildfire in Canada is causing severe effects far beyond its borders. Wildfires are contributing to already smoky weather patterns in the United States. The intersection of smoke, heat, storms, and flooding shows how much adjustment must take place to address environmental challenges. With millions of people alerted, state and local governments are on heightened alert to address public safety and health issues as events continue to unfold.
