The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet

by Jeff Goodell

When a city like Phoenix goes dark, the comforts and conveniences of modern life fray. Without air-conditioning, temperatures in homes and office buildings soar. (Ironically, new, highly efficient LEED-certified buildings are tightly sealed, making them dangerous heat traps when the power goes out.) Traffic signals fail. Highways gridlock with people fleeing the overheated city. Without power, gas pumps don’t work, leaving vehicles stranded with empty tanks. Underground water pipes crack from the heat, and water pumps fail, leaving people scrounging for fresh water. Hospitals overflow with people suffering from heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If there are wildfires in the nearby mountains, the air will become hazy and difficult to breathe. If the blackout continues for more than thirty-six hours or so, it’s likely the National Guard will need to be called in to maintain order and control widespread looting and general mayhem.