PHOENIX — Michelle Baisey has lived in Phoenix her whole life and has experienced her share of hot summers.
So far, she said, this year is no different.
“Where I’m living at doesn’t have air conditioning,” Baisey said. "I'm used to it. It's Phoenix. That's what we live like. [It will] probably get 120- 130 degrees.”
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Las temperaturas están subiendo y así es como la ciudad de Phoenix pretende ayudar a los residentes a combatir el calor
With even warmer temperatures on the horizon, the city of Phoenix is expanding its resources to help keep people cool during the hot summer months.
According to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s office, over 640 people died of heat-related deaths in Maricopa County last summer.
Phoenix city officials said this is the first summer Phoenix is extending hours to their cooling centers and adding five more centers this year.
The City of Phoenix is adding two overnight cooling centers for the summer: Burton Barr Library in downtown Phoenix and Senior Opportunities West near 7th Avenue and Buckeye.
Burton Barr will be open 24/7, city officials said. The senior center will only be open overnight hours. The capacity of both centers is set at 50 people, according to the City of Phoenix 2024 heat plan.
Since opening the extended hour and overnight facilities on May 1, the city has seen nearly 4,000 visits and anticipate higher volumes in the hotter months.
“We have identified this as a priority to make more often throughout the city to help some of our most vulnerable community members,” David Hondula, director of heat response and mitigation for the city of Phoenix said.
Hondula said the city’s multimillion-dollar efforts are coming from different funding sources: $1.8 million in city-allocated ARPA funding, $1.5 million in funding from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, and half a million dollars from the Arizona Department of Housing.
“[The city] allocated a good portion of American Rescue Plan Act funding as part of the strategy,” Hondula said. “Then we are really grateful to have support from the county and the state department of housing as well.”
City staff and Community Bridges, Inc. will staff the extended hour and overnight respite and cooling centers. CBI staff can also help connect individuals with the appropriate resources to meet their individual needs, city officials said.
Brian Lee, director of emergency management at the City of Phoenix, said the cooling centers will have dedicated security and additional resources for people.
“If somebody comes in and say ‘Hey, I live in an apartment and I can’t get my landlord to fix the AC,” Lee explained, “We have programs in place that the city can actually work with the resident and help liaison with the landlord to seek some kind of a resolution.”
In addition, Lee said those needing a ride to the cooling centers could contact 211 to arrange transportation. The heat relief service starts May 1 and goes through September.
Maricopa County has also hired a Heat Relief Coordinator to oversee the Heat Relief Network, which is a network of city and volunteer-run cooling centers and heat relief stations.
Lee also mentioned the importance of checking on elderly neighbors and pets in the backyard.
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Heat Beat
Here are several videos about Arizona's extreme heat and how you can stay safe during the state's summer months.