it hit 100°F (38°C) in Mid/Northern Appalachia today. for those unfamiliar, it’s the large mountain range in the eastern US. it gets humid often, but never the sweltering heat like this. the shade from the mountains and the forests outside the cities usually keep things cool. the plants are withered, people’s gardens are shriveled in the sun. the leaves on the trees in my home have turned red. a lot of people, myself included, can’t afford constant air conditioning, and most homes have poor insulation. people here are absolutely going to die from the heat. it’s not an exaggeration.