A new report from Headwaters Economics warns the dangers of extreme heat to rural residents, wrote Sarah Mellot of Daily Yonder.
Extreme heat is often surrounded by urban issues exacerbated by pavement and tall buildings, but rural areas suffer from different challenges when heat waves attack.
“Compared to urban residents, rural Americans are twice as likely to have existing health issues, such as diabetes, which exacerbate the risk of emergency heat. Rural workers are more likely to work in high-exposure industries such as agriculture and construction.
Meanwhile, the prevalence of manufactured homes in rural areas means that rural residents spend more on heating and cooling the more inefficient housing. “Rural residents in manufactured homes and mobile homes have increased their energy bills by 75% compared to their urban counterparts.”
Headwaters Economics offers policy solutions that help protect rural residents, especially those living in manufactured homes. From extreme heat. “Existing federal programs such as the Weather Resistance Assistance Program (WAP) and the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) support families by improving energy efficiency and providing financial assistance to cooling costs.”
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