Extreme heat in New Orleans has been identified as a significant factor in the increase of domestic violence-related emergency calls, as revealed by a recent study published in JAMA Network Open. Conducted by researchers at Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute, the study examined over 150,000 domestic violence calls made to the New Orleans Police Department between 2011 and 2021.
The findings of the study indicated that when the “feels-like” temperatures, which account for both heat and humidity, remained in the top 10% for five consecutive days, there was a 7% rise in domestic violence calls. In New Orleans, these extreme conditions generally correspond to sustained feels-like temperatures of 93 to 100 degrees or higher. Without such prolonged extreme heat, it is estimated that there would have been approximately 245 fewer domestic violence calls during the study period.
Anita Raj, the executive director of the Newcomb Institute and senior author of the study, emphasized the importance of recognizing extreme heat as a public health and safety concern rather than just a weather issue. She stated, “We must treat heat preparedness as part of our violence prevention strategies.”
The study focused on domestic disturbances, which accounted for about 70% of the analyzed calls, along with simple battery incidents making up another 22%. The researchers utilized a climate index that more accurately reflects the physiological stress that heat places on the human body, as opposed to solely considering air temperature.
While previous research has established a correlation between increased violence and extreme heat, this study is the first to directly link prolonged high heat to a surge in domestic violence emergency calls in New Orleans. The authors of the study recommend that the city incorporate domestic violence prevention into its heat wave response plans, enhance support for survivors during extreme weather events, and improve the categorization of 911 calls to better monitor trends.
Lead author Arnab Dey, a scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, highlighted the impact of extreme heat on human relationships, stating, “Recognizing this link can help shape more responsive public policies.” The study’s co-authors included researchers from the Irset–Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail at the University of Rennes in France and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
For more information, the study titled “Extreme heat and calls for service related to domestic violence in New Orleans” can be accessed in JAMA Network Open. The research sheds light on the critical intersection between extreme heat and domestic violence, urging policymakers to consider heat preparedness as an integral component of violence prevention strategies.
