BOSHEATPRESENTATION2026_OFFICIAL.PPTX

Heat Relief
2026
Jeanene Fowler, Director
Dr. Nick Staab, Chief Medical Officer
Presented March 23, 2026

MCDPH Vision & Mission
 
2

Surveillance
3

2025 Heat Death Trends
8

Heat-Related Deaths Over Time
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
*2025
61
84
154
179
182
199
323
339
425
645
608
427
Confirmed
2 0 1 4  -  2 0 2 5
In 2024, we saw the first 
decrease in a decade
In 2025 the decrease 
trend continued
30% 
decrease 
in 2025
*2025 preliminary data, final report will be available in April
9

2025 had less days over 110 than the previous 
years but is ranked the 4th hottest summer on 
record
Days over 110° F
Consecutive Days over 110° F
54
31
70
61
37
14
Number of Days Over 110°F in 2023 - 2025
2023
2024
2025
10

In 2025, 42% of heat-related deaths occurred on days 
with an excessive heat warning.
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
42%
39%
72%
25%
28%

In 2025, 84% of heat-related deaths 
were residents of Maricopa County
84%
84% Maricopa County Residents
9% In-State Residents
Includes residents of 11 other Arizona 
counties
3% Out-of-State Residents
Includes residents of 11 other states
4% Residency Unknown
Includes 19 cases where the residency state, 
county, or both are unknown

In 2025, 61% of heat-related deaths 
resided in Arizona 20 years or longer
3%
10%
9%
61%
>20 years
3-9 years
<3 years
10-19 years

Heat Relief Network
14

2025 Heat Response Overview
May 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025
Hydration Stations
Cooling Centers
Respite Centers
Outreach* Organizations
Donation Centers
Unique Organizations
*Newly registered addition to the heat relief network
122
97 
26
17
12
108

2025 Heat Response Overview
May 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025
Daily surveys submitted 
by HRN sites
4,120
Lyft rides provided via 
Solari/211
7,958
heat & substance use 
brochures shared
17,200 
water bottles distributed 
at HRN sites
880,000+ 
hours donated by Medical 
Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers
477
site visits conducted by 
Public Health Liaisons
247 
30,000
211 heat-relief cards 
distributed

Visits Increased Throughout the Season*
May
June
July
August
September
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Average Visits per Center per Day
Average Maximum Temperature
*This data is a sample of the number of lives that were impacted by HRN sites being open in 2025. 
18

New Requirements in 2024 Expanded 
Access
Year
Respite 
Centers
Cooling 
Centers
Sites open 
until 7:00 pm 
or later
2023
17
95
56
2024
29
94
68
2025
27*
97
61
* 2 overnight cooling centers – Phoenix and Chandler

Expanded Heat Relief Hours
13% of rides fulfilled were requested after 5:00 pm.
679
645
706
814
697
659
710
667
703
819
322
64
56
20
17
2025
2024
20

2026 Heat Response
21

Drivers that Could Impact Heat 
Outcomes
• Sustained temperatures
• Rising costs (electricity, gas, food) at a time of funding depletion 
(ARPA)
• Heat relief centers vs. neighborhood concerns
• Housing affordability
• Mobile home and RV living
• Outdoor worker exposure (construction, landscaping)
• People who use drugs
22

Maricopa Co. Heat Relief Response 
• Transportation and Heat Relief 211 Call 
Center Support
• Increase visibility with signage for HRN 
locations
• Expand cooling center hours throughout 
Maricopa County
• Increase opportunities for data collection to 
inform future response
• Partner with local municipalities to expand 
and support efforts
• Partner with substance use initiatives to 
leverage resources and partnerships
Guiding Strategies

Heat Relief Sites
• Continue funding 24 sites with ARPA funding
• Ensure all contracts have invoiced appropriately for ARPA close out
• Working with jurisdictions and MAG to support the heat relief 
network
• Map of site locations (MAG)
• Overnight sites (Phoenix & Chandler)
• Site visits to ensure signage, accurate hours, water availability
2 0 2 6
24

Heat Relief Sites
• Manage water distribution with 
St. Mary’s
• Continue to roll out staff and 
volunteer training modules on 
heat related illness
• HRN Partner Resources 
Center at 4041
2 0 2 6
25

Heat Relief Volunteers (Medical 
Reserve Corps)
• Provide site support (check in, resource distribution)
• Volunteers do not replace site staff, but do aid in being an 
extra person on site
• Assisting at HRN Partner Resource Center to increase hours of 
operation
• Creating clear volunteer guidelines for sites requesting support
2 0 2 6
26

Heat Relief – New in 2026
• Identify Family-specific Respite Centers 
• AZ Faith Network
• Phoenix 
• ITR Transportation Pilot
• Working with MCSO and CHS 
• Piloting new map features with ASU and MAG
• Onboarding and Registration for Street Outreach
2 0 2 6
27

Heat Relief Mobile Home Outreach
• Targeted, door-to-door outreach
• Coordinated, multi-partner approach
• Trained volunteers with consistent messaging
• Resource connection and real-time referrals: heat relief sites, 
municipal services, home repair programs, 2-1-1, etc
• Accessible and language-inclusive outreach
2 0 2 6   P a r t n e r s h i p   w i t h   t h e   R e d   C r o s s
28

Heat Relief and Substance Use
• Naloxone to be distributed through cooling and respite centers
• Individual distribution tracked by the site
• Optional survey available to those accepting naloxone to determine usage 
and usefulness
• Electrolytes purchased using Opioid Settlement Funds to be 
distributed to substance use partners providing street outreach
• Biweekly internal coordination meetings between substance use and 
heat teams to develop real time solutions
• Utilization of existing contracts and internal programs
2 0 2 6
29

Transportation and Heat Relief Call 
Center 
• Funding heat rides for the most vulnerable (CDC grant)
• Funding call center staff through 6/30 (CDC grant ending)
• Reduced the average cost of rides by 40 percent from 2024 to 
2025 – continue to monitor and find efficiencies
S o l a r i / 2 1 1
30

Surveillance
• Exploring ways to increase understanding of heat related illness
• Pre-hospital data (EMS, HMIS)
• Impact of out of season heat events
• Working with OME to automating data transfer and analysis
• Continue to share data with partner agencies/county 
departments to develop innovative strategies 
2 0 2 6
31

Heat Outreach/Communications
• Heat toolkit materials
• Clear Channel billboards
• Press releases/ongoing media 
outreach and response
• Social media outreach 
• Coordination with HRN partners to 
ensure consistent messaging
2 0 2 6
32

Other Heat Funding
• Connecting potential funders with local non-profits to maximize 
network
• AZ Community Foundation 
• BHHS Legacy
• Mayo
2 0 2 6
33

34
Thank you!
Questions?