Phoenix outreach teams respond to triple-digit heat in March

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Triple-digit temperatures in March have prompted Phoenix outreach teams to treat the next few days like mid-summer, not early spring.

Teams are loading up and heading out because this kind of heat this early can catch people off guard.

In Maricopa County, 73% of heat deaths happened outside last year. But deaths don’t just happen in peak summer — they can start early, as soon as April and sometimes even earlier. One year saw a heat-related death as early as March in 2024.

With temperatures climbing into the triple digits this week, something almost unheard of for March in Arizona, outreach teams aren’t waiting.

Crews with Phoenix’s Office of Homeless Solutions have been packing cars with water, cooling supplies and heat relief gear and heading straight to the people most at risk.

“Our outreach team is throughout the city so we can start here, one day we can do parks, we see an encampment, we’ll stop at the encampment, we’ll offer services, supplies,” said Mia Stanford with Heat Ready PHX.

“Our 24/7 heat relief operation starts May 1st and that’s why we have to get these outreach opportunities in place. Our teams are out there 7 days a week engaging with individuals, trying to get them to the resources they can connect to,” said Scott Hall, Office of Homeless Solutions deputy director.

Crews say their message is don’t wait until it feels like summer to take it seriously, because the danger is already here, whether you’re experiencing homelessness or not.

Heat deaths not limited to outdoors

Last year, 427 people died from heat in Maricopa County. Most deaths happened outdoors, but more than a quarter happened inside. In many of those cases, air conditioning was there but not working, turned off, or people just didn’t have power at all.

City leaders say preparation is key, and Phoenix has already rolled out its 2026 heat response plan, opening indoor spaces to the public and expanding access to cooling resources.

“Over time we’re seeing clear trends toward longer and hotter heat seasons so the possibility of something like this has certainly been on our minds,” said Dr. David Hondula, Office of Heat Response and Mitigation director. “We are constantly talking about the operational heat season May 1st to September 30th and how flexible we can be on the ends of that and this is a good reminder that flexibility is really important.”

With record-level heat arriving early, Hondula says don’t wait to take action. He says checking in on neighbors, staying hydrated and getting inside cooled spaces can make a difference.

City leaders said that if this is what March looks like, this summer could be especially dangerous. They’re urging everyone to start heat safety habits early this year.

Many libraries and community centers are already open during the day, and they’re encouraging people not to wait until it gets worse to start using them. They also say you can call 2-1-1 for more resources.

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