Sadly, authorities say heat-related conditions contributed to the death of an elderly Kennewick woman, who was found Tuesday.

Kennewick Police say the woman, whose identity was not released, died from heat-related causes. The Benton County Coroner's official cause of death was hyperthermia. Similar to hypothermia, but 'per' is from heat.

Officials did not say why there were called to the 73-year-old woman's home, but when they arrived around 10 AM Tuesday, the woman was unresponsive and died a short time later. The temperature inside her home, which did not have AC, was estimated at 95 degrees.

There are a number of citizens in the Tri-Cities who don't have AC, and conditions like this can make health hazards a serious threat, especially for elderly people.

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Authorities stress the need for people to make sure they check on friends and relatives who are elderly or have physical conditions that are made far worse by the heat.

Cooling stations have been in operation at the Richland Community Center, The Richland Public Library and City Hall, as well as the Flag Plaza in Downtown Kennewick.

The Kennewick location will be in operation through Wednesday at least. Also with help from the Community Care Fund, Kennewick Police are carrying coolers with water and ice during patrols, and are assisting people who need help, or they come across when they are answering calls. This will continue until the heatwave subsides.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

 

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