Arizona's Extreme Heat
Last summer was Arizona’s hottest and deadliest one to date. We saw 54 days with temperatures at or above 110 degrees, and we had the longest streak of 110+ degree days—31 days straight. This extreme heat puts lives at risk, particularly among low-income and homeless populations. In 2023 Maricopa County lost 645 people to heat related deaths.
This is why I’ve been working to make sure that local Arizona governments have the federal support they need to respond to extreme heat. I’ve worked with Republicans and Democrats to introduce two bills—the Heat Management Grant Assistance Act and the Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act—so communities will no longer be left to deal with heat disasters alone.
I’ve called on the Federal Government to increase the dollars that individuals can receive through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federal funding program that helps states and local governments offer assistance to low-income families to heat and cool their homes. Here in Arizona, that can mean anything from utility assistance to emergency repairs for air conditioners during extreme heat waves.
LIHEAP is already helping families in our state, but there needs to be more aid on the table. That is why I cosponsored the Extreme Heat Emergency Act, a bipartisan bill that will add Extreme Heat to FEMA’s list of major disaster qualifying events.
Resources are available at the city, county, and state levels to help residents find shelter in the face of this extreme heat. See below for links to local resource hubs, and remember to stay cool!
Maricopa Association of Governments Website
Maricopa County Heat Relief Resources
Arizona Department of Health Services
Heat Relief Sites in Tempe, Mesa, Chandler and Ahwatukee
- Cooling center locations provide water and access to air-conditioned space
- Hydration stations are publicly accessible water fountains
- Respite centers are locations where individuals can cool off and find important resources
Tips to stay cool
The CDC recommends individuals should do the following to help stay cool:
- Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and sunscreen
- Pace yourself
- Take cool showers or baths to cool down
- Check on friends and neighbors and have someone check on you
- Never leave children or pets in cars
- Check the local news for health and safety updates