Excessive heat in Southwest poses added threat amid pandemic
PHOENIX - As people around them sat and napped, some sipping water in an air-conditioned shelter on another sweltering day in a summer of record-breaking heat, Gary Goodman and Lena Stewart spoke of the fatal dangers of living on the street.
“There’s been a lot of friends, a lot of people I know have passed away,” said Goodman, a 47-year-old California native. “I guess they don’t realize, like you know, the oncoming symptoms of heat exhaustion. So, we’ve been finding a lot of deceased people in the tents.”
Goodman and Stewart weren't together but sat at nearby tables last week in the Phoenix Convention Center. They can't say with certainty if those they know died as a direct result of the heat, but the numbers back up their suspicions.
Between June and August, Phoenix reported 50 days with a high temperature of at least 110 degrees (43 Celsius), surpassing the record of 33 days set in 2011, and July and August were the hottest months ever in the nation's fifth largest city.
>>Excessive Heat Warning in effect for 11 Arizona counties
Heat is the top weather-related cause of death in the United States. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show more people are killed on average by heat than tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and lightning combined.
The CDC notes that community cooling centers help protect the public during heat emergencies, but this summer they also increased the risk of coronavirus by gathering groups of at-risk people.
In Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, authorities reported 55 confirmed heat-associated deaths as of Aug. 29, up from 38 all of last year. The county tracks heat-related deaths from May to October. According to the Department of Public Health Administration website, there are 266 cases under investigation, about double last year's 134 cases.
The record heat wasn’t just in Phoenix, as several desert cities across the Southwest saw triple-digit temperatures and new records, including Las Vegas; El Centro, California; and El Paso, Texas.
The high temperatures continued the first week of September with many cities coming off excessive heat warnings over the Labor Day weekend. Temperatures reached a record 115 degrees (46 Celsius) in Phoenix, 116 degrees (46 Celsius) in Las Vegas and 121 degrees (49 Celsius) in El Centro over the weekend.
Stewart, 57, said she was hospitalized for dehydration last year, when she would frequently ride the city’s metro train system to take advantage of its air conditioning.
“If you have limited means to mitigate yourself from temperatures like this, that can have a toll on your body,” National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Iñiguez said, such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke and, in extreme cases, death.
During the summer, the Maricopa Association of Governments coordinates a Heat Relief Regional Network of volunteers, businesses and organizations to provide cooled indoor locations, bottled water and collection sites for water donations. The Salvation Army also operates emergency relief stations on days with excessive heat warnings.
“We know it is serious. Here in Arizona we treat this like an emergency disaster that happens just like hurricanes in the South and we respond to the need because we know our resources can provide relief and can be lifesaving," said Maj. David Yardley, The Salvation Army's Phoenix program coordinator.
“It's not just the homeless, it's not just a certain age. It affects everyone. Our senior population doesn't even have to go out, they could be indoors in their homes having issues with their air conditioning units," Yardley said.
Jennifer Franklin, a spokeswoman for Maricopa County, said extreme heat is an annual public health challenge, but this year has been unprecedented. "With the COVID-19 pandemic and need for physical distancing, local shelter capacity was reduced out of necessity, and space for heat relief was limited," she said.
Traditional service locations such as libraries and other municipal buildings were forced to close because of the pandemic, said Tamyra Spendley, a deputy director of Phoenix’s Human Services Department. In response, officials converted the south building of the Phoenix Convention Center into a “heat respite center” providing relief from not only the beating sun and soaring temperatures, but from the coronavirus.
Spendley said the area can accommodate up to 250 people and since opening in late May officials have recorded more than 17,000 visits.
“This feels better. It’s more roomy, more space. The length of time that we can spend here is, you know, more than generous,” Goodman said, adding that he tries to arrive around 9 a.m. and stay until 6 p.m. when he can check into an overnight shelter.
The water is plentiful, which helps stave off potentially fatal dehydration. The meals and especially the brisk air conditioning also make the summer more bearable, he said.
The facility is expected to remain open through Sept. 30, and both Goodman and Stewart hope Phoenix continues the program in the coming years.
“For the majority of people, it’s been a godsend for them,” Stewart said.
You can check the latest weather conditions by visiting the FOX 10 Phoenix weather page, or download the Free FOX 10 Weather app, which is available on Apple iOS and Android.
Preventing heat exhaustion/heat stroke
The Arizona Department of Health Services stated the following precautions can be taken to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke:
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings
- Limit outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day (mid-day)
- Check on at-risk friends, family, and neighbors at least twice a day
- Drink water before, during, and after working or exercising outside
Driving in extreme temperatures
The Arizona Department of Transportation’s tips for driving in extreme temperatures include:
Have sun protection: In addition to an umbrella, take sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat and wear loose-fitting, light-colored cotton clothing.
Fuel up: Keep your tank at three-quarters full. Running out of gas, especially in a remote location, is dangerous in extreme heat.
Hydrate: Take a cooler to keep extra drinking water cold, and consider adding several frozen bottles of water to use for cooling off or to thaw and drink if needed. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays hydrated.
Get help: If your vehicle breaks down in extreme heat, call for assistance right away to reduce wait time, and run the AC. If the AC isn’t working, roll down all windows.
Wait safely: If the temperature inside your vehicle becomes too hot, everyone, including pets, should exit carefully and seek out or create a shaded area as far away from the travel lanes as possible. Be careful walking on the road surface, which can be hot enough to burn skin. Keep your shoes on and try to keep your pets’ paws off the pavement. If you are stopped along the highway, raise the front hood and turn on hazard lights. Please keep in mind that parking in tall brush can start a fire.
Check your vehicle: You can help avoid breakdowns and blowouts by making sure your vehicle is in good operating condition. Check your air conditioner and coolant levels, top off any vital engine fluids and make sure your battery is up to par. Check your tire pressure, as the combination of under inflated tires and hot pavement can lead to a blowout.
MORE: https://azdot.gov/about/transportation-safety/severe-weather