New York City data shows certain Brooklyn neighborhoods are more at risk during hot weather.
The city's
heat vulnerability index ranks neighborhoods in each borough based on the risk of heat related illnesses and death amongst residents.
Each neighborhood is ranked on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most at risk.
The neighborhoods are ranked based on factors including daytime summer surface temperature, access to air conditioning, and median income.
According to the data, East New York, Brownsville, Coney Island, and East Flatbush pose some of the highest risks in Brooklyn as they all ranked a 5.
On the other hand, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Greenpoint ranked a 1.
The data also reveals that racial inequities play a huge role as Black people die of heat related illnesses at a disproportionate rate compared to their White neighbors.
To combat the issue, the city says they are maximizing access to indoor cooling centers and working to increase the tree canopy by 30%.
But they say all New Yorkers without access to air conditioning are most at risk regardless of where they live.