Emergency Preparedness: Drought and Heat Waves

Product Description

It was the worst drought and heat wave to hit Europe in more than 150 years. Heavy rains that had developed in West Africa in late July 2003 pushed a weather system over North Africa that funneled hot air from the Sahara Desert. This system then moved over western Europe. It remained there most of the month of August, blocking the cooling, rain-bearing clouds that form over the Atlantic Ocean from moving over the region. Temperatures climbed above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). On August 12, Paris reached a record high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). In France alone, 14,000 people would die in the resulting heat wave. These were predominantly elderly people who lived alone. They lacked resources such as air-conditioning or fans to cool themselves.