Record Temperatures Impact Public Health Funding

Phoenix's expanded cooling centers helped reduce heat-related emergency calls by 20% in 2024 despite record temperatures, but the city faces questions about how to fund these facilities after federal pandemic aid runs out in 2026.

The city currently operates 24/7 heat relief sites, including one in downtown Phoenix that draws crowds during triple-digit temperatures. Phoenix Fire executive chief Tim Kreis said the extended cooling center hours have been "tremendously successful," connecting visitors with additional services beyond just cooling relief.

However, Phoenix has relied heavily on federal pandemic funding to support these heat relief efforts in recent years. With that funding set to expire in 2026, city officials acknowledge they lack the budget to sustain the programs independently.

The urgency of the issue became clear in 2024, when Maricopa County recorded 608 heat-related deaths amid record-breaking temperatures. In October, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego called for federal assistance, stating "Phoenix cannot do this alone" and urging Congress to recognize extreme heat as a national issue requiring federal legislation.

Arizona's congressional delegation has responded with several heat-related bills. Rep. Yassamin Ansari is sponsoring three measures focused on extreme heat, including one that would create a federal grant program to help fund cooling centers.

“We’re going to do our very best, but the most important piece of this right now is to show the urgency,” Ansari said.

Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly are backing legislation to study the economic impact of deadly heat waves, which Sen. Kelly described as an important step toward boosting local heat relief budgets.

“It’s a lot of folks that show up in the emergency room – that leads to lost wages, breakdown in infrastructure – and we don’t measure the financial costs of this,” Kelly stated.

Rep. Greg Stanton has launched an Extreme Heat Caucus in the House of Representatives, noting that while "Arizona faces it more intensely than anywhere else in the country," extreme heat affects multiple regions and requires a coordinated response plan.

Despite these legislative efforts, new federal funding for Phoenix's heat relief sites is not expected to arrive quickly. The city continues searching for solutions to maintain these potentially life-saving services in future summers.