Heat may have been a factor in 53 deaths

Maricopa County officials say the heat may have been a factor in at least 53 deaths that have occurred in the last three weeks, many of them during a stretch when high temperatures reached 118 degrees.

Maricopa County Department of Public Health officials said the latest casualties bring the total of suspected heat-related deaths to 75 for this year so far. Heat has been confirmed as a factor in nine of those deaths.

There were 34 deaths under investigation this time last year, which ended with a record 323 people dead of heatrelated causes in the county.

Across Arizona, there were 523 heat-related deaths in 2020.

County health director Rebecca Sunenshine said historically about twothirds of cases under investigation are confirmed, but that it can sometimes take weeks or even months to reach a

conclusion.

Temperatures reached 115 degrees or higher for six consecutive days from June 15 to June 20 at Sky Harbor International Airport and broke four records. But Sunenshine said only about half of cases happen during extreme heat events; the heat is dangerous at all times.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, the hottest month last year was August, raising concerns that numbers could continue to rise. As climate change exacerbates extreme heat events, predicting what could happen is difficult.

David Hondula, associate professor at Arizona State University, said the striking increase in heat-related deaths in recent years far exceeds what should be expected in relation to population growth in the state.

“It is very concerning that after a record-setting year, that we are outpacing last year’s numbers so far,” Hondula said.

With the daily low temperature continuing to rise, nighttime doesn’t offer an escape from the heat for everyone, especially people who can’t seek shelter. Last year, the heat was a primary or secondary factor in the deaths of 146 people experiencing homelessness.

Hondula said he believes there may be a strong correlation between the rising population of unsheltered people in the state and the number of heat-related deaths. Because of the number of people experiencing homelessness who were affected by the heat last year, Hondula fears for what the death totals are going to be at the end of this season.

City officials and community members are working on short-term efforts to help prevent heat-related illness and death, Hondula said.

Maricopa County is trying to revitalize the cooling centers available around the metro area after the COVID-19 pandemic halted much of that work last year.

But Hondula said city officials and community leaders could be doing more to open cooling centers in more convenient locations, as well as extend hours to make them more accessible to those without permanent shelter.

Hondula said people need to be thinking about the root causes of these problems, such as poverty, lack of affordable housing and climate change.

He suggested one way to move toward a long-term solution was to engage in political processes and rulemaking. The Arizona Corporation Commission will hold a public meeting on utility termination rules on Thursday at 10 a.m. that Hondula encouraged people who wish to voice their opinions on the matter to attend.

The commission will examine when and why utility companies can disconnect services following late payments and other issues. If power is cut off during the summer, temperatures can turn deadly inside homes.

“These are large problems that take a long time to solve,” Hondula said.

For a community-based approach, Hondula suggests checking in on neighbors, family and friends during the summer months to make sure they’re doing OK in the heat.

Sunenshine said she has seen welfare checks save lives. She said many people try to rely on ceiling fans, but those are ineffective once temperatures get to 95 or above. There are cooling centers around the county that also have resources for people who need help paying utility bills, need a new air conditioning unit or need one repaired, rather than relying on fans.

“While there are individuals in the community who are at more risk than others, everyone is in harm’s way,” Hondula said. “Heat can be dangerous for everyone.”