The Deadly Summer
By Devin Greaney
ESCI 4251
September, 2016
July 3, 1980 at 7 am was already 84 degrees. Debbie Diggons would have to deal with more heat as the day – and weeks- marched on. Memphis Press-Scimitar photo by Paul Dagys. Courtesy University of Memphis Libraries, Special Collections department.
Mid Southerners have their memories of the tornadoes of 1987, the ice storm of 1994, more tornadoes of 1994, the derecho of 2003, more tornadoes of 2008, floods of 2011 and the even more tornadoes of 2015. But summer? It is usually the same. It gets hot in late May, warmer as the days go on. The temperatures peak around July 4 and stay there for the next month and a half. The fantasy about moving to Seattle or San Francisco kicks in from mid July through late August as the heat, humidity and little airflow seem to conspire to make things extra miserable, then around the last week in September there will be that day or two one wears a light jacket. But 1980 was different. Numbers tell the story.
April, 1980 recorded average temperatures for that time of year with May and June both recording 2 degrees above the mean ( Weatherwise: 1980). Being relatively mild months perhaps few outside of the meteorological community would have noticed. But June 25 ( Applegate: 1981) things began to change. The temperature beganentering its above-the-normal range of 90 to 70 degrees to one of 90-74 ( Applegate: 1981). July 1 the city first hit 100. For two weeks- July 6 through July 20- the official temperature hit 100 degrees or higher every day. It is a record 100 degree streak that has not been broken. Then the record high of 108 degrees arrived July 13 at 3:15 pm. (NOAA: 1980) another record that has yet to be broken. The average temperature was six degrees above the mean for the month. (Weatherwise: 1980)
The sinking air kept rain from Memphis from June 24 to July 21. A stubborn upper level high pressure at the 500 millibar level over middle America kept conditions hot and dry. But poverty, age and a fear of crime combined with heat to create a disaster. 83 people – mostly poor and elderly- died that month as a direct result of heat. The total for July, 1979 – zero ( Applegate: 1981).
Memphians hardly turned a deaf ear to the issue. Shelby County Mayor William Morris said "We believe there are 40,000 living without air conditioning and in need of help from the heat." ( Memphis Press-Scimitar: July 9, 1980 ) The Metropolitan Interfaith Association and the Community Action Association along with the Boy Scouts began collecting and distributing fans to those who requested them. The Memphis Fire Department put two additional ambulances on the streets increasing the number form 14 to 16. ( Memphis Press-Scimitar July 9, 1980) Locally-based Hunter Fans offered to donate 400 fans. Churches and community centers opened up areas to cool off. Yet not everyone took them up on their offer.
"The poor and elderly of Memphis and elsewhere died in heartbreaking numbers in houses without fans or air conditioning, where all the windows were nevertheless were nailed shut and doors locked. Air conditioned centers complete with food, medical assistance and other services were opened to them. And yet they kept dying," said a frustrated editorial in the Memphis Press-Scimitar July 25. "Most were too frightened of the barbarians who roamed the neighborhood to desert their homes and meager possessions." ( Editorial : 1980)
The first reported death made the newspapers July 8. Charlie White, 60, returned from a walk to the store to his home at 1337 Adelaide July 6 and collapsed in his backyard ( The Commercial Appeal: July 8, 1980). The name was lost to history, but it was later determined July 3rd is when Shelby County experienced its first heat death followed by many others.
The twodaily newspapers were a body count that month with an almost daily list of those who succumbed.In the old Shelby County Jail despite the floor fans, a 26-year-old man died July 16 from the heat. The temperature inside was 96 degrees. Keep in mind this was 1:30 am. (Memphis Magazine: 1980) In comparison to the heat the deadliest tornado outbreak in the state was March 21-22, 1952 whichcovered 11 counties and killed 67 ( Greaney: 2012).
A comprehensive study was done for the American Geriatrics Society which indicated the 83 deaths was probably a conservative number. Heat deaths weredefined as people who had listed on their death certificates systemic hyperthermia, heat exhaustion or heat stroke( Applegate:1981). Existing medical conditions can get aggravated by extreme temperatures and the study showed a higher death rate July 1980 compared to July, 1979. The report noted 315 people died from cardiovascular illness in July of 1980 compared to 225 in July, 1979. The study also looked at July of 1975 and 1977 and their numbers were in line with 1979's so that year was not an anomaly ( Applegate: 1981).
The study reported those who died were an average age of 69.5 years though the victims ran the age range from 1 month to 105 years. 86 percent were African American, 61 percent were female. 80 percent of the deaths occurred in census tracts where the median household income was below $4,835 ( Applegate:1981) which would be $14, 120 in today's dollars ( Bureau of Labor Statistics) An informal survey of advertisements showed a challenge to the poor could have been the cost. Wall unit air conditioners were priced from $137 to $500 at Sears and Scott Appliance Stores, which would be $400 to $1460 in today's dollars. (Bureau of Labor Statistics )
Both Germantown and Bartlett grew rapidly in the previous decade and both put in water use restrictions in place on July 12. "We are asking they not water lawns or wash cars or any other heavy usage of water. The city is not out of water but due to the terrific demand we cannot store water under these conditions as fast as it's being used," said Bartlett Mayor Oscar Yates. ( Memphis Press-Scimitar: July 12, 1980)
When did the heat wave end? July 21 the dry spell, which began after 4 inches of rain on June 24, was broken with flash flooding, dropping the temperature by about 20 degrees. The high that day only made it to 82. (Memphis Press-Scimitar: July 21, 1980) The relief was short-lived as the temperature hit 102 on July 30. (NOAA: 1980)
As for deaths due to the heat in August, the American Geriatrics study did not go past July 31 and none were seen in a review of press accounts. Reviewing death certificates listed on the Shelby County Register of Deeds website shows from 1977 through 1983 there were an average 712 death certificates issued in the month of August. The total number in 1980 was 735. ( Shelby County Register of Deeds) It did not break down how the person died so saying 33 died in August from the heat is a bit of a stretch. The American Geriatrics report there was a decrease in accidental deaths in July of 1980 due to people not wanting to venture outside ( Applegate: 1981)
Like July, August averaged six degrees above normal. Into September the deviation was again that all too familiar 6 degrees above with the last 100 degree day occurring September 16. Even October 10 reached 90 degrees though October's average was two degrees below normal.(Weatherwise: 1980)
The heat was hardly a Mid South-only phenomena. Fifteen states had records set that summer in one or more of their cities. Places from Phoenix, Arizona to Macon Georgia and from Lake Charles Louisiana to South Bend Indiana had at least one record broken that July. The New England States, West Virginia and Michigan were the only states in the US not to record a 100 degree day that year ( Livezey: 1980 ) . Nationwide 1,265 people died that Summer in cases related to the heat. The average number is 175. Drought damage went into the billions. ( The Commercial Appeal: Oct 16, 1980)
Now the City of Memphis Office of Emergency Management has a "Thermal Emergency Plan" for extreme heat and cold. In the case of a heat advisory or warning:
"During the months of June through September, the Division of Fire Services
(DOFS), or his designee, and the OEM Dispatch Center will monitor National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts and notices for heat advisories. All divisions will telephone or visit at-risk individuals known to their divisions. Fire, Police and Code Enforcement will go door-to-door checking on the vulnerable and distributing heat safety literature and TEP (Thermal Emergency Plan) information
Cooling Stations will be activated during a Heat Advisory. These Cooling Stations will operate during normal business hours for the site utilized unless otherwise noted.
A Heat Advisory is issued within 12 hours of the onset of the following conditions: heat index of at least 105°F but less than 115°F for less than 3 hours per day, or nighttime lows above 80°F for 2 consecutive days.
An Excessive Heat Warning is issued within 12 hours of the onset of the following criteria: heat index of at least 105°F for more than 3 hours per day for 2 consecutive days, or heat index more than 115°F for any period of time."
(Office of Emergency Management)
An unscientific study of Google maps of today's views of the addresses of those who died show most of the homes are no longer there and seem to have been gone for some time, usually replaced by a vacant lot. Others look long abandoned. The few which seem occupied show window air conditioners.
Today the poor, who were at a higher risk for death, are a higher percentage of the city than in 1980. That year Census figures had 21.8 % of Memphians living at or below the poverty level. ( Census:1980). In 2016 that had changed to 26.2% (Charlier: 2016)
The Summer of 1980 had plenty to talk about. The Presidential race pit Ronald Reagan against Jimmy Carter. Americans were hoping and praying for the safe return of hostages held at the US Embassy in Iran. Fans of the TV show "Dallas" were speculating who shot their antihero, J.R. Ewing. Movie goers were laughing themselves silly at the movie "Airplane" and the adventurous were enjoying the new fad of mechanical bull riding at the country western bars that seemed to replace the discos from the year before. Despite all this the big topic of conversation around Memphis and most of the central US was that old standby - the weather.
Sources:
Applegate, William B., Runyan, John Jr, Brasfield, Linda, Williams, Mary Lynn. Konigsberg, Charles. Fouche, Charles. "Analysis of the 1980 Heat Wave in Memphis" American Geriatrics Society, August, 1981
Bureau of Labor Statistics "CPI Inflation Calculator"
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
Charlier, Tom "Memphis No Longer the Nation's Poorest Large Metro Area" The Commercial Appeal. September 15, 2016.
Commercial Appeal, The "Boiling Heat Linked to Five Deaths" July 8, 1980
“Heat Killed 1,265; Losses in Billions” October 16, 1980
Editorial Board Memphis Press-Scimitar "The Efforts Must Continue" Memphis Press-Scimitar July 25, 1980
Greaney, Devin. "Night of the Twisters" Across Tennessee. March, 2012
Livezey, Robert "Weather and Circulation of July, 1980: Climax of a Historic Heat Wave and Drought Over the United States" Monthly Weather Review Volume 108. October, 1980
http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/1520-0493(1980)108%3C1708:COAHHW%3E2.0.CO%3B2
Memphis Magazine."City Reporter" September, 1980
Memphis Press Scimitar. Authors Uncredited.
"Community Agencies Begin 'Operation Cool" July 9, 1980
"Heat's Death Toll Reaches 10 in Memphis" July 9, 1980
"Heat Emergency Aid Offered the Aged" July 9, 1980
"Water Conservation Ordered in the Suburbs; Mercury Hits 103" July 12, 1980
"Historic Weather Continues to Melt Records" July 14, 1980
"Rain: Cool Front Snaps Heat's Torrid Grip" July 21, 1980
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climatological Data- Tennessee 1980
Office of Emergency Management, City of Memphis "Thermal Emergency Plan"
Shelby County (Tennessee) Register of Deeds
US Census Bureau.Table 57 Summary of Economic Characteristics1980 Census of Population. General Social and Economic Characteristics. 1980
Weatherwise Magazine. "Weather Watch."September, 1980 – January, 1981