Creative Loafing, an Atlanta weekly newspaper, published a long story this week about the impacts of severe and extreme weather, like flash flooding and heat waves, on cities. In particular, vulnerable populations like the elderly, children, and lower socioeconomic class folk are especially likely to suffer from this weather, since they often live in areas that are more prone to flooding and may have less access to air conditioning than others. In the future as temperatures climb, this may result in increases in economic losses and serious health issues for people already stressed by other hardships.
The story is based on a study published by UGA professor Dr. Marshall Shepherd and Binita KC of Northeastern University. While based on a study of Atlanta, the results would be similar for any urban area in the Southeast or across the United States. You can read the story here.
