blog 2 (11-15-11)

Response to "Dying Alone":

The heat wave in Chicago in 1995 was both a social disaster and a natural one. It was primarily a social disaster and time of awareness because many people died out of contact meaning they died alone from this heat wave in places such as behind doors, and in alleys, that no one would expect. This is a social issue because they died without putting closure on relationships and families. Since the elderly were the most vulnerable to death in this situation, that shifted the population socially. They were most vulnerable because they were often unable to move quicker, and they tend to be less modern than everyone else. When you are old and ill, it is harder to shift your life style than it is for an active young adult. Also, since this heat wave broke out and everyone was acting hectic and unorganized, they needed to trust people around them. City dwellers sometimes needed to trust their neighbors because when it was so hot they needed to leave doors open or something like that. Trust is a big aspect of social life, and this heat wave was an example of how an environmental issue affects social lives as well. Another major aspect of this heat wave in 1995 was the response by the government and the question if the government did enough and covered their responsibilities. Of course people argued that the government did not do enough because when a whole city is in trouble like that, they need someone to blame, so they blame their leaders who already have so many expectations placed on them. The government failed to implement a plan for what happens when a heat emergency like this occurs, and they waited till last minute to do it because they were not fully expecting it. After many bodies were already washed away, the authorities still stalled calling for more help and paramedics because they could not sense the magnitude of this epidemic. By 1999 Chicago experienced another sever heat wave, however the media played a bigger role in this event than it did in the issue in 1995. With the advanced communications, interactions, and overall technological advancements, police were sent door to door to check on people, public transportation was provided, and everything was more organized, therefor the death toll was reduced. Because of these heat waves, which were both a natural and a social disaster, the government learned things as well as the citizens and what they should expect from their leaders. From this, citizens learned that natural disasters that are uncontrollable should not be blamed on the government, and now they know how to prepare themselves for scenes like this in the future.