Fresno CA Morgue Full As Central Valley Heatwave Grinds On - WP

[hatrack]

The 50-person refrigerator at the morgue in Fresno is full, primarily with the bodies of elderly people who are believed to be victims of a sustained blast of triple-digit heat that has tormented most of California in the past two weeks. "I have never seen these kinds of numbers," said Loralee Cervantes, the coroner in Fresno, where she said the temperature outside her office yesterday was 110. "There are so many we can't keep up."

California edged away from mandatory electricity blackouts yesterday as slightly cooler air -- although still in the low 100s -- began to filter across much of the state. A day after the nation's most populous state shattered its record for electricity consumption, power managers said clouds and lower temperatures in coming days would lessen the likelihood of rolling blackouts. "At this point, if everything remains okay, then we are all right through the day," said Kristina Osborne, spokeswoman for the California Independent System Operator, which manages the state power grid. "It is supposed to cool as we go through the week."

A power emergency on Monday required some businesses to curtail power use in exchange for lower electricity rates. It has ended, although residents were being warned to conserve power and limit the use of large appliances during daytime hours.

Most of the heat-related deaths occurred in the sweltering Central Valley. In Fresno, in the north of the valley, the coroner said many victims collapsed inside their homes and were found somewhere other than in their beds. "Some people had power outages, some can't afford to pay their bills, some were using fans, and we had one case where a man was scared of the sound of his air conditioner," Cervantes said. She said most of the dead were 65 to 80 years old.

EDIT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/25/AR2006072501297.html

[mrbassman03]

1. This is why I worry about my grandparents living in Southern CA...

Though I'm almost positive the assisted living place they live in wouldn't cut the AC. I'll give them a call, see how they are doing.

[kestrel91316]

6. Where in SoCal are they? If they are near me I could check for you.

Things are way cooler today, BTW.

[rodeodance]

2. Have we no 'offficials" who look after these people--? my gawd!

[htuttle]

3. You might think that a morgue full of elderly people killed by the heat...

...would rate a more prominent place than page A04.

But you'd be wrong -- this is America.

[LeftyMom]

4. Can the WaPo afford a map?

Fresno is not at the north end of the central valley. It's not even close.

It is hotter than the gates of hell here in California though, which isn't unusual, and very humid, which is highly unusual.

[XemaSab]

9. Eh, one time in the NYTimes they said Sacto was in

Kings County. :wtf:

[doodadem]

5. Last night's Fresno Bee was still reporting just 10 deaths...

I don't understand where the 50 is coming from?

We're about 40 miles east of Fresno in the mountains. It's miserable here. We're usually about 5 degrees cooler than the Valley, but not seeing much difference now, and the humidity is nasty. We thought we'd left 90 degrees and 90% humidity behind in the midwest. 112 degrees with humidity on top that no one is used to here, is just killer. We're having to just do the essential work on the farm right now. I have fans on all the horses in their stalls, and the dogs have a puppy pool.

Nothing to that global warming business though, right?!

[NNadir]

7. The morgue filling associated with climate change has just begun, I bet.

[Dead_Parrot]

8. Yeah, at least they still fit (just)

And the power is still on for refrigeration.

I fear we'll be looking back on this year as the good ol' days before long. :(

[NNadir]

10. Here's an update: 90 dead in CA.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060727/ap_on_re_us/heat_wave

FRESNO, Calif. - Corpses piled up at the morgue Thursday, and aid workers went door-to-door, checking in on elderly people in hopes of keeping the death toll from California's 12-day heat wave from rising.


Rosario Dawson
Clerks II
Brad Pitt
Uma Thurman
Kate Bosworth Jennifer Lopez


California coroner's offices said the number of deaths possibly connected to the heat wave climbed to 90.

In Fresno County's morgue, the walk-in freezer was stuffed with bodies, with some piled on top of others, said Coroner Loralee Cervantes. With limited air conditioning, employees worked in sweltering heat as they investigated at least 22 possible heat-related deaths.

"It's never been like this in my years here," Cervantes said. "This is really tragic."

The mercury dropped slightly in some areas, with Sacramento expected to get its first double-digit high in 12 days, but Fresno and Bakersfield were expected to hit 109.

In Stanislaus County, which includes Modesto, officials were investigating whether sizzling temperatures were responsible for 20 deaths. Salvation Army workers walked door-to-door to check on elderly and other vulnerable residents...

Lindsay Lohan, though, is safe.