TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona’s new heat officer said Friday that he is working with local governments and nonprofit groups to open more cooling centers and ensure homes have working air conditioners this summer in a more unified effort to prevent another ghastly toll of heat-related deaths, which topped 900 statewide last year.
“We don’t want to see that happen again,” Dr. Eugene Livar said of last year’s deaths. “We cannot control it, even though we can control our preparation in response. And that’s what we’ve been focusing on.”
Livar, a physician with the Arizona State Department of Health Services, was named to his post by Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this year, making him the first heat officer of a U.S. state in the nation. The new position recognizes the serious public health risks posed by climate-fueled extreme heat, which has increased in recent years.
Livar was joined at a news conference to kick off Arizona Heat Awareness Week last week by officials from governments including the neighboring cities of Phoenix and Tempe and Maricopa County, Arizona’s largest county that saw a record 645 heat-related deaths last year. In attendance was climate scientist David Hondula, who will see his third summer as the first heat officer in Phoenix, America’s hottest city.
The increased coordination comes as federal agencies seek better ways to protect human beings from the dangerous heat waves that are arriving earlier, lasting longer and increasing in intensity.
The National Weather Service and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month presented a new online heat-risk system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors with a seven-day forecast that is simplified and color-coded for a warming world of worsening heat waves.
Last summer, Phoenix experienced the hottest three months since record-keeping began in 1895, including the hottest July and the second-hottest August. The daily average temperature of 97 F (36.1 C) in June, July and August passed the previous record of 96.7 F (35.9 C) set in 2020. Phoenix also set a record in July with a 31-day streak of highs at or above 110 F (43.3 C).
This year’s hot season began Wednesday in Maricopa County, where it runs from May 1 through Sept. 30.
Hobbs this year proclaimed May 6-10 as Arizona Heat Awareness Week to draw attention to the dangers of the summer in this arid Southwest state and work on ways to better protect people. Arizona for the first time this year also has an Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan.
Among the new measures the state is introducing are at least a half dozen mobile cooling centers made with shipping containers that are solar powered and can be moved to wherever they may be needed.
The City of Phoenix for the first time this summer is opening two 24-hour cooling centers, one in a downtown public library and the other in a senior center.
Maricopa County has set aside nearly $4 million to expand evening and weekend hours of cooling and respite centers where people can escape the outdoor heat, rest in an air-conditioned space and drink plenty of water. It is also working to help people with limited resources to get help paying their utilities and to have their air conditioners repaired or replaced.
ANITA SNOW Associated Press
Bullhead City observes Heat Awareness Week
BULLHEAD CITY – The City of Bullhead City will be participating in the upcoming statewide campaign to spread awareness of extreme heat. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has proclaimed Heat Awareness Week from May 6 – 10, to highlight the importance of staying safe during the summer season.
The desert heat can be very dangerous as triple-digit temperatures last through September. The high temperatures increase the risk for heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The City of Bullhead City would like to highlight the resources that are available to encourage community members to prepare for the upcoming extreme heat. During this campaign week, a cooling center will be open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., May 6 – 10 at the Bullhead City Recreation Office, located at 2285 Trane Road (behind the Senior Center).
“We’d like to take a proactive approach and let the community know that we have cool and comfortable options offering respite from the heat.” said City Emergency Services Coordinator Lieutenant Andrew Sevillano. “We will also be providing water and educational packets on heat-related illness prevention.”
Lt. Sevillano reminds everyone that heat-related illness is preventable. Remember to drink plenty of water even if you’re not thirsty to stay hydrated. Avoid outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light, loose fitting clothing and apply sunscreen often. Take the time to check on elderly neighbors and pay extra attention to children and pets during excessive heat.
“In Bullhead City, we are no strangers to the heat, but we can’t tackle this hazard alone,” added Lt. Sevillano. “We need the community to be prepared and to help family, friends and neighbors who may need assistance with issues such as not having access to an air-conditioned space to cool off.”
The Bullhead City Recreation Center is the planned location for a cooling station during excessive heat warnings where temperatures reach 120 degrees. The Optimum Center (formerly named the Suddenlink Center) is currently closed for renovations.
Here are other locations to escape the heat:
* The Bullhead City Senior Center, 2285 Trane Road, is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. for seniors (50+ years).
* The Homeless Shelter – The Legacy Foundation Christine Stamper Center for Help & Hope – located at 1594 N. Oatman Road, is also open from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., every day.
* The Bullhead City Municipal Pool, 2255 Trane Road, will be open for free when temperatures reach 120 degrees or more. Check www.bullheadcity.com/community/aquatics for a pool schedule, including open swim days.
The City of Bullhead City also has a plan in place in the event of an extended power outage for a cooling center to be available to the public.
