Arizona Heat - Collaboratively Tackling America's
Deadliest Weather Phenomenon (155)
Paul Iniguez, NOAA/National
Weather Service, Phoenix, AZ
David Hondula, Arizona
State University
Matthew Roach, Arizona
Department of Health Services
Abstract:
Heat is the deadliest weather
phenomenon across the United States, killing approximately 700 people each year
according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In Arizona alone,
numbers compiled by the Arizona Department of Health Services show an average
of 154 heat caused/related deaths per year. Health statistics indicate for
every one heat caused/related fatality, approximately ten additional people are
hospitalized or visit an emergency room due to heat illness. No other weather
phenomenon consistently impacts a local population as heat does in Arizona.
Entities at all level of
government, in academia, in the private sector, and nonprofits have come to
realize the high toll extracted from our communities by Arizona's notorious
heat. Extensive work over the past ten years as been met with mixed results, as
the number of deaths and injuries appear to continually increase. This
presentation will discuss some of the specific dangers of Arizona's heat and
how various entities are working to mitigate the impacts, including enhancing
their collaboration over the past two years.