Canadian Wildfire Smoke Drives Poor Air Quality Across the US
Wildfire smoke from Canada is driving some of the worst air quality in the world across parts of the US, with alerts in place from the Midwest to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Smoke from hundreds of active Canadian wildfires has traveled more than a thousand miles into the US, affecting cities including Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and New York City. More than 850 fires are burning across Canada, with over 100 still listed as out of control.
Air quality levels have reached unhealthy to hazardous ranges in several major cities. Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis have ranked among the world’s worst cities for air quality as dense smoke pushed across the region.
New York City has also seen deteriorating air quality, with hazy skies and periods of unhealthy air possible as smoke continues to move into the area. Dense plumes could bring reduced visibility and orange-tinted skies at times.
Today, the smoke is expected to push farther south and east, affecting parts of Ohio, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and surrounding areas. Poor air quality may continue to disrupt outdoor activity and increase health risks, especially for sensitive groups.
Actionable Analytics on EigenPrism
Events like this one are easy to underestimate because the impact is less obvious than wind or water. There’s no roof to repair, but there are employees, tenants, and policyholders breathing unhealthy air. For organizations with people and locations in the affected areas, the most meaningful first step is reaching out, sharing local conditions, and encouraging limits on outdoor exposure to show care in the moment when it matters most.
All EigenPrism® users can assess the impact of AQI on their assets, and the people connected to them, using this footprint within EigenPrism:
Alerts
Users who have alerts set on their exposures for the relevant event sets, like those from AirNow will receive alerts (if the event footprints impact these exposures).
To learn more about how to set an alert on a specific event set, check out this help center article.
Feel free to contact us at Prism.Support@eigenrisk.com or reach out directly to your Customer Success Manager with any questions or concerns. Our team is here to assist you with setting alerts, understanding report templates, and maximizing the actionable insights available through EigenPrism®.
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