In 1911 An East Coast Heat Wave Struck That Was So Searingly Hot It Had Deadly Consequences

Is it possible to cope up with the heat wave? Are we even equipped with strong enough equipment to protect ourselves from the heat wave? If we are talking about the present time, then the answer is ‘yes’. All thanks to technology, now we have air-conditions to keep us cool at home when the heat wave is threatening outside. Nevertheless, back in 1911, people were not lucky enough. They didn’t have the benefit of electrical fan, leave alone air-conditioning. In July 1911, terrible heat wave descended on the east coast of America. Temperatures just didn’t drop from 90 degree Fahrenheit. The people were not able to go about with their daily business. From New York to Boston, everybody was looking for some kind of relief from this terrible heat wave. After winning the American Civil war, an unprecedented growth was witnessed across the country. Mainly the north became the centre of all kinds of activity, leaving behind the southern portion of the country. Industries came up at a rapid pace and within no time, the population crossed the 90 million mark. New York City alone was home to five million people. However, the major issue or hurdle was infrastructure. It hasn’t developed as fast as the population, so in some places like Manhattan, people started living in crowded and cramped conditions. Nothing was going in favor of the citizens residing on the East Coast because the temperature was in no mood to come down for 11 days. The condition of the houses made things worse, forcing the residents to go out to the park and take shelter under the shades of trees. If they saw any water tub or tank, then everybody would just run towards it and dip their head in it so that they can get some kind of relief. Some people jumped off the pier to cool off their body and in turn just got drowned. It was not just the heat wave that killed people; many people were killed as they jumped into the sea or river when the heat became unbearable. People started feeling suicidal. Few people tried to kill themselves by jumping in front of the train, many people went crazy and started attacking the police officers. The heat wave affected the old people and the children mostly. Meanwhile, exhaustion took a toll on the horses and they died. The decaying bodies were left on the streets. When the temperature started dropping, the humidity made life even more miserable than before. Many people died in the morning due to the high humidity during that period. Already 211 people were reported dead across the city. Finally, when the rain came, it took few more lives as the lightning struck. This is how more than 2000 people died due to the heat wave in 1911.