LATEST: At least 18 people have died from heat in the Phoenix area this year and another 69 deaths are under investigation, according to a weekly heat report published by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
The deaths, which were recorded through July 15, illustrate the grave risk from heat even in places like Phoenix, where residents are familiar with extreme temperatures and where public health officials are keenly focused on the issue. Data from years past shows heat deaths are intertwined with the opioid and housing crises in the Phoenix area.
Forecasts suggest the oppressive heat will persist for at least another week in the Southwest. More than 80 million U.S. residents are expected to experience a heat index above 105 F this week, according to the agency. More record-breaking heat is expected in the Four Corners states, Texas, the lower Mississippi Valley and South Florida by the week’s end.
“It may not give an accurate picture of what’s going on during this heat wave,” Staab said. “It takes time to complete those investigations and ensure all those deaths are accounted for.” The Phoenix area has made investments in heat mitigation. The city of Phoenix in fall 2021 hired an Arizona State University associate professor, Dave Hondula, to lead one of the first city heat response offices in the nation. The Maricopa Association of Governments coordinates one of the most sophisticated networks of cooling sites in the nation.
“This is what our system is designed for,” said Max Wilson, a deputy director at Phoenix Water Services.
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