Social Responsibilities In Chicago

In the interview piece with Eric Klinenberg, the author of the “Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago,” he explains that a main reason for the high death toll during the 1995 in Chicago heat wave was the lack of social connection between the citizens in Chicago.  Many people were living alone and were disconnected from others when the heat wave hit. There was no one to care for them and they didn’t know where to go for help. In this situation, the environmental hardship and the lack of social relationships that Chicagoans shared were directly linked to the death of so many people. 

The absence of a social fabric during the Chicago heat wave is a similar reason to why many people die in other natural disasters.  For example, when there is a flood and someone is trapped in their house without anyone around or looking out for them, they will die.  When there is an earthquake and someone’s home collapses on them, and there is no one around to rescue them or even go looking for them, then they too will inevitably die. 

This shows a major flaw in human nature. In our modern day world, especially in America, close community bonds between individuals of different backgrounds are uncommon.  Typically, people who live in one part of city don’t go out of their way to look out for the health of someone in another part of the city.  Usually, young people aren’t going out of their way to look out for elderly women that may need help in their city. But living in a city does require a social connection.  It is important for citizens to realize that in times of crisis, they must look out for the well-being of everyone.  For people to live exclusively with others of their same ethnic background, age, or even gender leaves many individuals without someone to look after them.   

During the Chicago heat wave in 1995, many elderly people that were living alone died because there weren’t people checking on their well-being. It is not enough rely on emergency and rescue organizations when a natural disaster strikes.  When a crisis rises in a city like Chicago, it is everybody’s social responsibility to look out for the health of others whether they have ever met them or share any commonalities with them.  A sense of community is the only way for cities to get through environment hardships.