The center\u2019s mission is to help communities better prepare for extreme heat before it becomes deadly.<\/p>\n
PHOENIX \u2014 As Arizona prepares for another dangerously hot summer<\/a>, federal lawmakers and researchers are warning that extreme heat is no longer just a seasonal inconvenience \u2014 it is a growing public safety crisis.<\/p>\n On Friday, U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton and Yassamin Ansari announced a $2.6 million federal investment to establish Arizona State University\u2019s new Center for Heat Preparedness, which officials say will be the first center of its kind in the nation.<\/p>\n The center\u2019s mission is to help communities better prepare for extreme heat before it becomes deadly.<\/p>\n \u201cExtreme heat is no longer an uncomfortable fact about Arizona summers,\u201d Stanton said. \u201cIt is a threat to our power grids, our water supply, our transportation systems and more importantly, human life.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Stanton, the center will focus on developing predictive models to anticipate dangerous heat events, while also creating best practices to protect infrastructure and public health.<\/p>\n \u201cThis center will develop predictive models and anticipate extreme heat events before they become emergencies, they will build best practices to protect critical infrastructure and bring researchers, policy makers and community members together to turn data into actual action,\u201d Stanton said.<\/p>\n Officials say the work will also focus on practical solutions, including improving cooling centers, expanding shade at public bus stops and helping utility companies prepare for increased energy demand during heat waves.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll improve guidance for cooling centers, we\u2019ll help shape legal protections for people at the highest risk for health-related issues, we will establish policies to ensure we\u2019re getting resources to the right places and people at the right time,\u201d said Dr. Sally Morton of ASU.<\/p>\n The announcement comes as Maricopa County continues to see record heat-related deaths.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2024 alone, Maricopa County recorded over 600 heat-related deaths,\u201d Stanton said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen someone dies from extreme heat, whether they\u2019re an outdoor worker or sitting in their home, our system has failed them,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n ASU officials said the center will expand on heat-related research already underway at the university. Nearly 170 researchers are currently working on projects tied to extreme heat, including developing street materials designed to keep neighborhoods cooler.<\/p>\n \u201cHeat really affects us where we live, where we work, where play, where we move throughout our city and our pocketbooks and our health and so this is really helping us translate our research to have an impact in our lives,\u201d said Dr. Patricia Solis, executive director of Knowledge Exchange for Resilience.<\/p>\n Researchers say the urgency is growing as extreme heat events become more frequent and severe.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not a future threat, it is here and escalating,\u201d Morton said.<\/p>\n RELATED: Where to find heat relief in Maricopa County<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n RELATED: Arizona expands heat relief: Gov. Hobbs announces utility aid and promotes cooling centers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+<\/strong> app!<\/p>\n The free\u00a012+<\/strong> app from 12News lets users stream live events \u2014 including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”\u2014on Roku,<\/a> Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n 12+<\/strong>\u00a0 showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.<\/p>\n Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.<\/p>\n Roku<\/strong>: Add the channel from the Roku store<\/a> or by searching for “12 News KPNX.”<\/p>\n