During peak summer heat, temperatures in Mountain West cities can consistently exceed 100 degrees. Even at night temperatures remain high. These high temperatures can pose serious health risks – even death – to those who are unable to find relief from the heat.
Extreme heat alerts push local authorities to activate cooling centers - typically in schools, community centers and libraries. But that might not be enough, says Ariel Choinard, who leads the Southern Nevada Heat Lab.
“If you go into a cooling center, and lets say you fall asleep at the library, you will be asked to get up and leave. So the opportunity for people—especially unhoused folks, who experience so much heat, don’t get a chance to get that physical rest,” said Choinard.
Last year’s record-heat days took place during the Fourth of July weekend when many centers were simply closed because of the holiday. Health advocates are concerned that temporary cooling stations aren’t open long enough during high heat days. And, they may not provide amenities that people need to address prolonged extreme heat incidents, like water or places to lay down.
In Arizona, the City of Phoenix established an Office of Heat Response and Mitigation to address the ongoing seasonal heat crisis. Choinard says Phoenix has created a more robust heat response that other cities are using as a model. For example, Phoenix has cooling centers where people can lay down and rest.
Cities across our region hit record highs last summer. It was especially hot across Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.
Choinard advocates for updating response systems that no longer keep up with today’s prolonged heat waves, like expanding hours and types of cooling centers which can remain open during holidays, nights and weekends.
“There were more heat deaths than there were vehicular deaths. And when you think about how many resources we put into trying to prevent vehicular deaths vs. heat related deaths…..” Choinard said, comparing the two efforts.
Last summer, the Coroner’s Office in Clark County, Nevada, attributed more than 500 deaths to extreme heat.
In May, state lawmakers passed a bill aimed at encouraging municipalities to do more to expand and support heat mitigation and response efforts and create a heat mitigation plan by next summer. A number of options are included, enhanced tree-planting efforts and expanding cooling centers.
