May 5 – 9, 2025: Arizona Heat Awareness Week

Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States with Arizonans living on the frontlines, disproportionately feeling the impacts of extreme heat than compared to states outside of the American Southwest. In 2023 alone, there were over 4,000 heat-related  emergency department visits and over 900 heat related deaths occurring across the state. In May of 2023, Governor Katie Hobbs proclaimed the first Monday* in May to mark Arizona Heat Awareness Week and in 2024, she appointed Dr. Eugene Livar as Arizona’s first Chief Heat Officer to oversee the implementation of her administration’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan. 

Heat preparedness is an ongoing effort in which tribal, state, county health departments, and other partners engage in planning and forecasting throughout the year. This year’s heat season official partner network convening began in mid-April with the 2025 virtual kickoff hosted by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS).  This virtual session included a review of the 2024 heat season surveillance trends, projections for the 2025 season, and highlights of priorities and initiatives related to surveillance, communications, and action plans to mitigate the health-related impacts of extreme heat.

As we enter the 2025 extreme heat season with the understanding that the 2024 season was hotter and longer than the previous season, SCORCH would like to share updates from heat relief network partners in preparation for meeting the forecasted support needs of their communities. 

Below are resources that have been developed by partners across the state to protect communities from extreme heat (note that these are not exhaustive; additional efforts will be highlighted on the SCORCH website in the coming weeks):

ADHS Cooling Center Website –This statewide resource provides information on cooling centers that offer heat relief throughout the summer.

Pima County Beat the Heat Website – Pima County Health Department and the City of Tucson partner with the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, community-based organizations, public libraries, rural coalitions, and tribal partners to coordinate heat relief efforts across the county. Available resources include a county-wide cooling center map, heat awareness brochures (Visitor Heat Handout, Heat Illness Prevention; Staying Safe in Extreme Heat), and social media messaging templates.

NOAA/NWS– The three Arizona Weather Forecast Offices (WFO)** of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Weather Service (NWS) and other partners*** launched HEAT, a 5-day heat awareness safety campaign to raise awareness about the detrimental health impacts of extreme heat (ENG/ESP).

• Health (Monday, May 5)

• Environment/Weather (Tuesday, May 6)

• Awareness (Wednesday, May 7)

• Take Action (Thursday, May 8) 

• Summary: Educate/inform the public about the dangers of extreme heat (Friday, May 9) 

Extreme heat can impact everyone regardless of how long they have lived in Arizona. Heat, however, can also impact individuals differently.

• Individuals working outdoors are among those most vulnerable. SCORCH resources highlight actions that can be taken to prevent occupational heat exposure (see Extreme Heat Guidance Workplace Infographics).
• Older individuals and those with chronic disease(s) are another group at increased risk for heat-related illness. Certain medications can impact the body’s ability to cool. Resources developed by the Arizona Heat and Medications Taskforce were designed for use by community members and healthcare providers to share with their patients.