Containers that used to create a barrier between Arizona and Mexico have been repurposed to provide relief from the extreme heat.
A total of 18 solar-powered cooling containers are being deployed across the state, with two already operational in Phoenix and more scheduled to open in the coming weeks as part of Arizona’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan.
Chaz Glendenning, who resides in a shelter, mentioned how he came across a sign for one of the cooling containers near the state capitol and decided to seek respite from the scorching sun.
Glendenning recounted, “Outside, [you’ll] burn in a matter of minutes, and you come inside here and it’s nice and cool.” He experienced dehydration recently and had to spend five days in the hospital due to the unbearable weather conditions.
On June 6, Phoenix broke a record by reaching 113 degrees and set another record with a low of 87 degrees the following morning. The previous record low of 85 degrees was set in 1977.
The repurposed containers were previously used by former Gov. Doug Ducey to establish a barrier between Arizona and Mexico. The state sold 444 containers for $807,543 and currently has 1600 shipping containers in stock, with uncertainty about how many of the containers sold were part of the makeshift border wall.
Two mobile cooling units are operational in Phoenix, six are designated for the Department of Corrections, and 10 will be allocated to local jurisdictions, including Tohono O’odham Nation, Gila County, Tucson, and Pinal County.
Arizona Faith Network Community Resilience Program manager Arene Rushdan expressed admiration for the innovative cooling units, some of which have been informally termed “cooltainers.”
The cooling shelters are equipped with amenities such as refrigerators to keep water bottles cold, stocked snacks, donated items, and Naloxone in case of an overdose. Security measures are in place, including the presence of a guard and available lockers for use.
With a capacity for 15 individuals, Rushdan mentioned that if the shelters reach full capacity, there may be limits on the duration of stay for visitors.
These cooling units were introduced following a scorching summer in 2023 that affected Arizona. In a press conference on May 3, state officials revealed that 987 lives were lost to the heat the previous year, with emergency rooms recording 4,000 heat-related visits and cooling centers receiving over 26,000 visits across the state.
Valleywise Health reported a surge in heat-related injuries this month, with 136 patients admitted with severe burns between June, July, and August of 2023, resulting in 14 fatalities. In comparison, 85 individuals were admitted for heat-related burns in 2022, with seven of them succumbing to their injuries.
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Dr. Kevin Foster, the director of the Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health, cautioned about the dangers of extreme heat, especially in direct sunlight. He anticipates an increase in heat-related injuries this summer.
According to the National Weather Service, excessive heat is a significant weather-related threat in the United States, and experts believe climate change will exacerbate temperature extremes.
This week, Accuweather is monitoring a widespread heat wave affecting the Midwest and Northeast, with approximately 135 million people expected to encounter temperatures of 90 degrees or higher. The temperatures are projected to rise further over the weekend in the Midwest.
Rushdan expressed hopes that Phoenix can serve as a model for cooling initiatives amidst changing climate conditions.
Glendenning expressed gratitude for the cooling containers before venturing back out into the heat, stating, “I’m very thankful for these, and I’m sure they will save many lives.”
This year alone, Maricopa County has recorded five heat-related fatalities, with 67 cases still under investigation.
