Wisconsin contends with extreme summer heatwave

Communities across Wisconsin are enduring a heatwave that’s breaking records across the nation and around the world. According to the National Weather Service, east central, south central and southeast Wisconsin are all under an extreme heat warning until 7 p.m. Wednesday, with the heat index nearing or exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Madison and Green Bay. Local officials are highlighting access to cooling shelters and other emergency resources. 

In Kenosha, heat index could reach 107 degrees Fahrenheit, city officials warn. Residents should stay hydrated by drinking water, staying cool indoors and be aware of signs of heat stroke including confusion, dizziness, nausea or headaches. The Milwaukee Health Department offered similar warnings. 

A spokesperson for the  Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services said the county has a “No Wrong Door” model, which allows residents to connect with the department at many different health and human services agencies.  Local housing navigators are out in the community checking on people who are unhoused and offering them access to cooling sites, shelters and temporary housing. Residents can locate cooling sites by dialing 2-1-1 and many public cooling sites have been set up  along county transit routes. Residents who own properties they want to turn into a public cooling location should email IMPACT 211 at [email protected]. 

The Department of Natural Resources has issued air quality alerts for the Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Ozaukee, Racine and Sheboygan counties. Local health officials in Dane County and Madison noted that over 1,000 deaths from extreme heat occur each year in the United States. People who are  most at risk are older adults, people working outside, infants, children, unhoused people and those with chronic medical conditions.

Wisconsin state law prohibits a utility from disconnecting electrical service to occupied dwellings during a heat advisory, warning, or emergency situation, according to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. 

Utilities are also required to make “reasonable attempts” to reconnect service to dwellings disconnected due to unpaid bills when an occupant notifies them that  there is a potential threat to health or life. However, the utility may require a licensed physician’s statement or a notice from a public health, social service or law enforcement official in those circumstances. When the  heat warning is over, the utility is allowed to disconnect the power again.

Scientists have long warned that worsening heatwaves and extreme weather are becoming more common due to man-made climate change. Green Bay is still recovering from severe floods that hit last week, damaging  roadways and businesses. In April, Milwaukee County, which has also experienced historic flooding in the last year, re-affirmed its commitment to the Paris Climate Accords, which called on the world to take necessary steps to prevent average global temperatures from increasing beyond 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.