Coping With Record Heat and Humidity

[Firstime RVer]

I worked with utilities for over 30 years and over the years and it seemed to me that we could have done a better job as an educated society. The environmentalists made such a fuss, that licensing of any sites, was expensive and time consuming.
This forced the utilities to push technological limits to get the most out of the limited sites that they could utilize with units running at 1,300 to 1,800 megawatts.
We've had 125 mw packaged nuclear generator packages operating on Aircraft carriers and smaller units on submarines for almost 50 years!!!
They were designed within known technology, that would'nt push the limits of technology or stress the local ecology as much the larger unit designs did.
It seems to me that building those plants with known technology and a more manageable size would increase the safety factors for all.
I had no problem living within 2 miles of the River Bend nuclear plant in Louisiana.
It just goes to show that what you don't know can hurt you.
Just my $.02 FWIW

 

[Isaac-1]

I remember touring Riverbend Station as a school field trip when it was under construction, I think I was in Jr High

 

[Chef Duane]

Grew up in SoCal when the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Site (SONGS) was still running. Did a tour once. Very interesting. First reactor came on line in '68. No major accidents. Recently decommissioned. The emotional reaction of OMG NUCLEAR POWER overtakes the rational side of needing clean, safe, energy. Movies like "The China Syndrome" played into that but hey... never let reality get in the way of raw emotion.

 

[whiteva]

I was around when River Bend was built. Part of the licensing they had to upgrade the fire departments in the area. Laplace, La received a lot of new fire equipment including a 90' Snorkel truck. Also paid for special training for key volunteer fire fighters and EMT's.

Dang I am OLD.....

 

[Firstime RVer]

We happily lived in LaPlace for a couple of years. Loved access to the bayous for fishing, great neighbors, reasonable climate. Commuted to Metarie for work most days. The daily summer afternoon thunderstorms were a norm and did cool things off. Never gave the proximity to the nuke plant a second thought. Dont think my neighbors did either.
Safe travels and all the best.

 

[jymbee]

Never gave the proximity to the nuke plant a second thought.

Yeah, that's what people said who lived on an earthquake fault, before... (kidding! )

 

[Chef Duane]

Extreme Heat Warning here in Dallas today. Temps expected to hit 103° by noon and still be 96° - 99° into the evening only dropping below 90° after midnight. Yikes. Old folks are the most vulnerable in extreme heat as many live alone and don't have adequate A/C (or any at all) or access to a location that has A/C. Temps expected to stay around 100° through the end of the week. Here in Plano we have a few organizations who are going out to check on the elder community and some community centers are activating 'heat relief centers' as places to stay during the heat wave.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Our forecast for the next week:

 

[Chef Duane]

As of August 2, 2026, Dallas has recorded 69 days with a high temperature of at least 90°F. This is well above the long-term average for the city and places 2026 in the top ranks for 90°F days. As of July 12, 2026, Dallas has recorded 6 days with highs of 100°F or more, with forecasts projecting a total of around 23–24 days for the year. On July 22nd we topped out at 109°F. So still more heat to come before a break.​

 

[Tulecreeper]

As of August 2, 2026, Dallas has recorded 69 days with a high temperature of at least 90°F. This is well above the long-term average for the city and places 2026 in the top ranks for 90°F days. As of July 12, 2026, Dallas has recorded 6 days with highs of 100°F or more, with forecasts projecting a total of around 23–24 days for the year. On July 22nd we topped out at 109°F. So still more heat to come before a break.​

We started hitting 90° in April.