According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, heat is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities and injuries across the country. Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) reports the state is seeing longer periods of extreme heat, with Summer 2023 being the hottest summer on record, resulting in over 4,000 heat-related emergency department visits (Arizona’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan). Heat-related illnesses ranging from heat exhaustion to heat stroke contributed to over 3,200 in Arizona from 2012 to 2022 (ADHS).

Effective heat preparedness and response will require cross-jurisdiction collaboration, coordination, and communication. The proposed webinar will provide an overview of statewide heat preparedness efforts for the 2024 heat season and strategies for building heat resilience. Panelists will also share tools and strategies to support library efforts in addressing community needs during extreme heat season.

Key attendee takeaways:

•              Familiarity with heat risk data and planning documents provided by the AZ Governor’s Office (AZ Governor Heat Preparedness Plan) and ADHS (Heat Resilience: Shaping Arizona’s Future), including recommendations/action items from ADHS planning group meetings.

•              Understanding the extreme heat early warning system tools provided by the National Weather Service.

•              Identifying disparate challenges among rural and urban settings in responding to extreme heat.

•              Understanding new approaches to extreme weather mitigation, from “cooling centers” to “climate resilience hubs.”