AZ Family: Phoenix area saw fewer heat deaths in 2024; here’s what changed

Peter Valencia and Zach Prelutsky, AZ Family

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — It was the hottest summer on record for metro Phoenix, and that prompted concerns about heat-related deaths that often impact the most vulnerable portions of our populations: people experiencing homelessness, low-income families and the elderly.

Maricopa County health officials released a report this week revealing 602 heat-linked deaths in 2024, down from 645 in 2023, a record-breaking number.

While the report hasn’t been finalized, as eight deaths remain under investigation, the metrics are considerably lower than those from 2023.

“I think the most important thing we learned is that these strategies work. What we’re going to try and do is really do a careful assessment of which of those strategies had the biggest impact,” said Dr. Nick Staab, the chief medical officer for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

About 50% of the people who died because of the heat in 2024 were experiencing homelessness at the time. Overall, 58% of people the total heat-related deaths involved substance use, primarily stimulants.

“If you think about all of those things that put us at risk whether it’s unstable housing, substance use, general poor health. Age. All of those things are complicated by our heat,” explained Staab.

A bulk of these deaths occurred amidst July’s month-long heat wave, officials said. Weather records showed 70 days at or above 110 degrees, and 113 days in a row had triple-digit temperatures.

“No deaths are acceptable, and we’ll continue to work to ensure our most vulnerable residents, including those experiencing homelessness, have shelter and heat relief options during our extreme summer heat,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said. “But these numbers show that we’re having an impact, we’re making a difference, and we’re saving lives.”

Phoenix says it invested nearly $185 million over the past five years on projects and homeless services. Last year alone, the city spent $3 million on heat relief services.

Two overnight heat respite centers were opened, and cooling center hours were extended. The Burton Barr Central Library served as the city’s only 24-hour respite center. City officials say that in 2025, they plan to work to add more capacity to the respite centers.

“Through successful policymaking and with thanks to Mayor Gallego’s leadership, we were able to see a significant reduction in heat-related deaths,” Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien said. “I’m committed to continuing our efforts to reduce the heat island effect through policies like the Cool Pavement Program and Canopy for Kids, and ensuring we save lives through thoughtful planning and implementation of our extended hours cooling centers.”

Of the 1,358 heat-related calls for services between May 1 and Sept. 25, only 203 were within one mile of a cooling center during operating hours. Based on intake forms received, more than 33,000 visits to cooling centers were reported.

“For the first time in a decade, Phoenix saw a decline in heat-related deaths last year, proving that our expanded relief efforts make a difference,” Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington said. “As we prepare for this summer, we remain committed to ensuring that the appropriate resources and infrastructure are in place to keep our community safe.”

The city also worked with several community organizations and nonprofits, such as St. Vincent de Paul and UMOM New Day Centers, to open shelters and transitional homes. Phoenix officials say they’re currently working on converting a recently purchased hotel to housing with supportive services.

“We’re going to look for opportunities this year to expand our logistic section to make sure that we can get resources and supplies prestaged and prestored in advance to cut down on some of the just in time deliveries that we experienced last year,” said City of Phoenix Office of Emergency Management Director Brian Lee.

Maricopa County officials say their initiatives for 2025 include expanding hours and days of operation of heat relief sites, contracts with community-based organizations for distributing water, expanding public awareness of cooling centers, and increased collaboration with substance use harm reduction groups.

An Associated Press analysis of CDC data from 2024 found the death certificates of more than 2,300 people who died in the U.S. in 2023 mention the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years of records.

As Arizona’s Family has previously reported, a majority of the heat-related indoor deaths were people 50 years and older. Without air conditioning, experts say the average temperature of homes can reach 100 degrees or even higher.

A handful of resources are available to help seniors and low-income families pay their electric bills from utility providers like SRP and APS. Federal funds are also available.

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