NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 20258GOV BUSINESS REVIEWIN MY OPINIONExtreme heat may not come with sirens or visible destruction, but it remains the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States. According to both the National Weather Service and the CDC, heat claims more lives each year than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, or lightning. In Chandler, Arizona, the danger is especially severe. Every summer, lives are lost to heat-related illnesses. These deaths are tragically preventable and disproportionately impact the most vulnerable residents.Despite its lethal impact, extreme heat is not recognized as a major disaster under the Stafford Act. This limits the ability of communities to access critical federal resources and respond with the urgency this growing threat demands.Chandler, Arizona, population of approximately 282,000 residents, is nestled in the Sonoran Desert where hotter summers, heat emergencies are no longer anomalies but rather they are predictable, recurring crises. The Sonoran Desert has one of the longest heat seasons in North America, often beginning as early as April and extending into October. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 110°F, especially during June through August. This poses a serious risk for heat-related illness, especially among people without reliable shelter or cooling access. Unlike most deserts that cool rapidly after sunset, urbanized areas like Chandler often retain the heat at night. Maricopa County Department of Public Health advises that cooler nights provide an opportunity for the body to recover. However, if nights remain unusually warm, higher temperatures will occur earlier in the day and last longer, posing a significant risk for heat-related illness, especially among certain groups, including older adults, young children, people experiencing homelessness and those with underlying health conditions. Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke addressed these concerns by tasking the City of Chandler to identify a solution to meet the needs of the vulnerable population exposed to extreme heat weather events. These operational efforts are currently underway with the implementation of a Unified Heat Relief Team.Chandler Launches Unified Heat Relief Team, Becoming Arizona's Second City to Adopt Incident Management ModelIn response to Arizona's intensifying summers, the City of Chandler has taken a proactive and strategic step in protecting its residents from the dangers of extreme heat. Chandler is now the second city in the state of Arizona to establish a Heat Relief Unified Team, a citywide collaborative modeled after the City of Phoenix's nationally recognized approach that integrates the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS).The launch of this unified team represents a significant milestone in the region's emergency management evolution and one that acknowledges extreme heat as not just a weather event but also as a recurring public health and safety crisis. It became evident that daytime cooling centers alone were insufficient to fully address the needs of residents. Meaningful action required enhancing and expanding existing resources to more effectively support the community.Ericka Huston, Emergency Manager, City of Chandler, ArizonaByFIGHTING HEAT WITH UNIFIED PLANNINGEricka Huston
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