Cooling Centers Prepare to Serve Thousands This Summer

Two mobile, solar-powered cooling centers will operate in the Capitol Mall again this summer, and 14 others have been deployed across the state for counties, cities and tribes in an effort to prevent heat-related illness.

As part of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan, the Arizona Department of Administration renovated shipping containers that the state had in surplus to serve as cooling centers — dubbed Cooltainers — that could be deployed anywhere around the state. 

ADOA used several local small business partners for renovating the containers, adding solar and transporting them. To turn them into cooling stations, the containers had to be sandblasted, insulated and painted. Flooring, electrical, wiring and solar panels had to be installed. The air-conditioned units can fit about 15 people. There’s a shaded waiting area and a portable restroom. They can stay as long as they like during operating hours.

“Governor Hobbs put out a call to action for agencies to come together and find innovative ways to combat the extreme heat we experience in Arizona. These Cooltainers are now for the second summer serving people who need a respite from the heat,”said ADOA Director Elizabeth Alvarado-Thorson. “I’m so proud of everyone at ADOA who contributed to retrofitting, operating and transporting these Cooltainers to help people whose power is out at home, who can’t afford to run their air conditioning all day, who are unhoused or who just need a rest from the elements.”

State Chief Heat Officer Dr. Eugene Livar with the Arizona Department of Health Services leads implementation of the Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan and emphasizes that collaboration is key when it comes to addressing heat.

“A collaborative approach is critical in bringing ideas like this into reality. We are fortunate to have the vision from the Governor’s Office and numerous state heat partners such as agencies, municipalities and nonprofits working to address impacts of extreme heat,” he said. “We know the Cooltainers served thousands of people last summer in the Capitol Mall area, and we anticipate the resource will be highly utilized again this year.” 

In total, the state has refurbished 18 shipping containers; ADOA operates two and has deployed 14 to local partners. Two are currently available for deployment. 

On May 5, the Arizona Department of Administration opened one of the two units the agency operates in the Capitol Mall area, at 1601 W. Jefferson Street. Another will open June 2 at 1818 W. Adams Street. In the first summer of operations in 2024, these two Cooltainers alone served 7,509 people.

Operating hours for the Capitol Mall Cooltainers are seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., covering the hottest parts of the day in an area with little shade and where many people need to access supportive services. The Cooltainers are staffed by members of the Arizona Faith Network to provide water, electrolyte packets, a place to charge devices and referrals to further resources. 

Rev. Katie Sexton, executive director of the Arizona Faith Network, said that the Cooltainers are a life-saving community resource. 

“The Cooltainers saved hundreds of lives last year, providing not only immediate physical relief but also a profound sense of community and dignity for those seeking shelter from the extreme heat,” she said. 

“People came in with visible relief, knowing they had a safe, cool space to rest, rehydrate and connect with community resources. The presence of these Cooltainers underscored Arizona's commitment to protecting vulnerable community members and reinforced our collective responsibility to respond to urgent needs in a tangible and compassionate way.” 

According to Arizona Department of Health Services data, there were 5,974 heat-related emergency room visits in 2024 across the state; there have been 289 already in 2025. More than 4,320 people died from exposure to excessive heat in Arizona from 2012 to 2023. While the number of heat-related illness emergency department visits is increasing, Dr. Livar notes that this may be a sign that people are seeking help early, likely preventing heat-related deaths. Last year, the number of cooling centers across the state totaled more than 400 locations.

The Arizona Department of Health Services recently launched a statewide heat resource website, a one-stop shop for all Arizonans this summer and beyond. It offers heat safety resources including issuing excessive heat warnings, tracking heat-related illness data and providing interactive maps of where to find cooling centers, hydration centers, respite centers and places to donate water, sunblock and other resources. 

Contact: Hannah Moulton Belec, ADOA
[email protected]
480-815-9483