Triple-digit torture leaves millions in misery

Soaring temperatures blamed in dozens of deaths

 

 

NEW YORK (AP) -- As if another day of triple-digit temperatures wasn't bad enough, Queens grocer Salm Ali had another problem: a power outage forced him to pitch about $5,000 worth of withered produce.

 

His Liberty Deli and Grocery was just one of thousands of energy customers across the eastern United States that experienced scattered blackouts Wednesday as the oppressive heat and humidity prompted record-setting demand.

 

"This is the life," Ali said sarcastically. "Even the fan isn't working."

 

The region was in for another day of steamy weather Thursday. The heat wasn't expected to break until evening, when a cold front should force temperatures down into the 80s, said National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Simpson.

 

The National Weather Service again posted heat warnings from Massachusetts to South Carolina and in parts of Oklahoma. Since Sunday, authorities have confirmed heat played a role in at least 13 deaths and suspect it played a role in seven more. (Watch to see what may follow the hottest seven months ever -- 1:44)

 

The same heat wave was blamed for as many as 164 deaths last week in California.

 

In Boston autopsy results were pending on a pregnant woman who died Saturday after collapsing at a sweltering Red Sox game and suffering an apparent heart attack. A medical team was able to deliver her 4-pound infant at a hospital. (Watch the husband describe how his wife became clammy and died -- 1:41)

 

In Kentucky, an 18-month-old boy was found dead Wednesday inside a van about 60 miles northeast of Lexington. In Illinois, at least six heat-related deaths have been confirmed in Cook County since Sunday, and police believe that another six deaths in Chicago Wednesday could be heat-related. Four deaths were reported in Maryland, including three elderly victims who did not have air conditioning, officials said.

 

In Oklahoma, authorities said a 92-year-old man found near his car Tuesday died of heat related-causes. In Pennsylvania, a 74-year-old custodian was found dead in his bed. An autopsy indicated he died of acute heart disease aggravated by the heat, the coroner said.

 

By late afternoon Wednesday, the temperature had risen to 101 at LaGuardia Airport, but it felt like 106. Hartford, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; and Taunton, Massachusetts; also hit 100 degrees. The mercury hit 99 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Baltimore and Philadelphia each climbed into the upper 90s. (Details)

 

Even on Cape Cod, which is usually a haven during the steamiest summer weather, residents were buckling. Carla Sullivan, the dockmaster at Hyannis Marina, said she saw people dousing a dog with water after the animal collapsed from heat stroke.

 

"The water just pours off of you," said Sullivan. "This is Texas hot."

 

Utility officials urged people to resist cranking up air conditioners amid heavy electric demand. Consolidated Edison, the utility that serves customers in and around New York City, set its second record in two days for peak demand. The Long Island Power Authority and ISO New England also reported record-setting energy use.

 

In Queens many residents found themselves in the dark again after recovering from a 10-day outage in late July. That included Ali, the grocer, who said he had to throw out $17,000 worth of produce last time.

 

Some Massachusetts residents were thrown into the dark Wednesday night because of thunderstorms, while in Stamford, Connecticut, Connecticut Light & Power cut electricity to some downtown businesses after two circuits failed.

 

In New York City, teams patrolled the streets, looking for homeless people and encouraging them to head to air-conditioned drop-in centers, carrying water and checking for dehydration. Officials in Washington, D.C. also were going door-to-door to get people to go to cooling centers, said Mark Brown, deputy director of the city's Emergency Management Agency.

 

Concerts, zoos, sports affected

As a precaution, the Dixie Chicks postponed an outdoor concert at Jones Beach Amphitheater on Long Island. In Fitchburg, Massachusetts, about 40 people attending a Warped Tour outdoor concert were taken to a hospital and treated for dehydration.

 

In Boston, animals at the Franklin Park Zoo were kept cool with sprinklers and frozen treats. The African wild dogs and lions got frozen blood; the primates received frozen fruit juice.

 

"It's a matter of taste, I guess," zoo president John Linehan said.

 

The broiling heat also took its toll on the sports world. The New England Patriots canceled "Patriots Experience," a football-themed entertainment area for children that was supposed to run at the team's training camp Wednesday. Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs cut his players a break by pushing back their practice session to 7 p.m. (Full story)

 

The heat wasn't terrible for everyone, however.

 

Bicycle messenger Gravett Dhuja tried to look at the bright side as he rested near a Capitol Hill office building: "It's been hot, but rain is a lot worse for us."

 

Costas Katemis, a fruit vendor outside Boston's South Station, was drenched in sweat as he handled brisk sales of peaches, plums and nectarines. But he didn't mind.

 

"I've been here when it's been 10 below zero, and the fruit actually freezes, so this weather is no problem," he said.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/08/03/heat.wave.ap/index.html

 

...and to think, I am going to be waiting on line for about 6 hours for Muse in this heat!!!! Matt better snap a picture with me!!!!!

Oh god...

 

And us Brits were complaining when it was between 90-96 for just over a week......(which is still pretty hot)

 

Good luck with the Muse gig....

I like it hot... it's just too humid! ugh it's soooo sticky and I'm always sweating. Yuck. I guess I won't die if I keep up drinking my daily half-gallon of water. :)

 

Nice thunderstorms over here in WNY last night though. Refreshing!

Oh god...

 

And us Brits were complaining when it was between 90-96 for just over a week......(which is still pretty hot)

 

Good luck with the Muse gig....

 

 

 

thanks! I got a nice tan from waiting on line.. and the gig was amazing! :nice:

 

still no relief from the heat though... :(