ENVH 406/506: Disasters and Public Health

Book Club Assignment

Written assignment Due: October 30, 2018 at 11:59pm via Canvas
In-class reading quiz: October 31, 2018
Graded in-class discussion: October 31, 2018 & November 2, 2018
Note: Bring your book and an extra copy of your assignment to class for reference during the
discussion.

Please read Eric Klinenberg’s Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago (Second Edition).
You may read the book at your own pace, but you must read the entire book in order to complete the
assignment. There are three parts to this assignment.

A. Prepare a written response to the following questions. Please limit your response to
each question to 250 words (shorter responses are acceptable). Responses should
demonstrate understanding of the key concepts presented in the book and apply
knowledge learned in class and through the required readings. Provide specific
examples from Heat Wave to support your response. Your assignment should be typed
in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font and double-spaced with one-inch margins.
(70/100 points)

1. On page 19, Klinenberg describes a “Latin health paradox.” What were the fundamental
causes of this paradox during the heat wave?

2. Describe two specific governmental programs or policies mentioned in the book and
explain how they contributed to the social conditions that placed so many Chicagoans at
risk for adverse health outcomes during the heat wave.

3. On page 135, the author states: “According to then-Health Commissioner Sheila Lyne,
though, the Fire Department’s inaction had little impact on the city’s emergency response.
‘Fire got blamed for the ambulances taking too long to get places,” she explained. “But it
wasn’t going to matter…. I think the people were going to die anyway.” Do you agree or
disagree with this assessment? Explain your response.

4. Based on the challenges encountered during this response, explain one potential policy
solution that could enacted by Chicago’s county government to improve health outcomes
in a future heatwave. Describe any considerations for and/or barriers to its implementation.

5. What was the Daley administration’s political response to the heat wave? How did it
influence the health impacts of the event?

6. How did the media’s coverage of the event impact the government response to, and health
impacts of, the event? How could the media coverage be changed to more positively
influence government response and reduce health impacts in a future heatwave?

7. On page 232, the author states: “A second problem is the expectation that city residents,
including the elderly and frail, will be active consumers of public goods, smart shoppers of
services made available in the market rather than “citizens” entitled to social protection.”
Why does the author think this is a problem? How did this expectation impact health
outcomes during the heatwave and how could Chicago’s preparedness programming
overcome this obstacle?
B. Take an in-class reading quiz to assess your understanding of key concepts conveyed
in the book. (20/100 points)

C. Actively participate in an in-class discussion on the book. Questions used for the in-
class discussion may include, but are not limited to, Part A questions. (10/100 points)