The summer of 2023 was the deadliest in Maricopa County since tracking fatalities began, and public health officials are expanding the region's heat response effort beginning May 1.

The Maricopa Association of Governments launched the Maricopa County Heat Relief Network in 2005 bringing together public, private and nonprofit volunteer organizations with the goal of limiting the number of heat-related deaths.

This year, in part due to an investment of American Rescue Plan funds by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health is coordinating cooling and respite centers throughout the county along with ensuring that residents know how to access these centers, according to a release.

“The number one thing we learned from our cooling center assessment in 2023 is that people need cooling centers to be open longer and on weekends. The other important piece we learned is that people need help finding cooling centers and other heat-relief resources,” Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director for MCDPH, said.

“With this in mind, our team has been working tirelessly all winter with our heat relief partners to refine our current heat relief system’s hours of operation and ensure that we have a system in place for people to find these resources.”

In response to the assessment, MCDPH has developed a plan that includes:

1. Intergovernmental agreements with Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler, Mesa and Tempe. In partnership with the cities, cooling and respite centers will be available to those needing to get out of the heat. At least one heat relief site in each city will be open until 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and open on at least one weekend day. Many of these are respite centers, which allow people to have uninterrupted rest while they cool off.
2. Partnership with 2-1-1. MCDPH has contracted with AZ 2-1-1 to staff its call center with community health workers or promotoras who speak English and Spanish to help residents find cooling and respite centers, water and other heat relief support such as utility assistance and air-conditioning repair and replacement from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
3. Partnership with large organizations providing cooling and respite centers. MCDPH will also be contracting with larger nonprofits providing heat relief center support to ensure that cooling and respite centers are staying open until at least 7 p.m. and on weekends throughout the county whenever possible.

Every year since 2016, Maricopa County has set a record in the number of heat-related deaths confirmed.

“The bottom line is that we know all of these deaths can be prevented, and it is going to take every one of us in Maricopa County to do our part,” Sunenshine said. “Preventing heat deaths comes down to three things: know your risk, protect yourself and protect others.”

For more on heat illnesses, prevention tips and data: Maricopa.gov/heat.

For the map of heat relief centers and to find out where to donate supplies: https://azmag.gov/heatrelief.

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