AQD | Flag Program

Air Quality Division

Air Quality Flag Program

Revised On: Nov. 19th, 2024 - 10:01 am

Helping Communities Become More Air Aware

ADEQ’s Air Quality Flag Program helps protect the health of our children, workers, families, friends and neighbors by providing Arizona communities with resources to inform residents about:

Local outdoor air quality conditions
How air pollution impacts health
Actions you can take to protect yourself and others
Ways we can improve the quality of the air we breathe

This program is especially important for older citizens and children, including teens, and those with asthma or other respiratory illnesses, who are at greater risk of experiencing health issues from air pollution.

How Does It Work?

The Flag Program provides you with educational materials and colored flags that notify your community about local air quality conditions. The colored flags correspond with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) Air Quality Index (AQI). By sharing educational materials with your community and flying the flags in a visible spot, you are helping alert people to that particular day’s air quality, so they know when and how to modify their outdoor activities.

Who Can Participate?

The Flag Program is designed for specific areas where air quality either does not meet, or is at risk of not meeting, national standards. These areas must also have air quality forecasts for ozone, PM₁₀ (dust), and PM_2.5 (smoke) in Arizona | View Map >

We Encourage the Following Organizations to Participate:

Schools
Government Agencies (state parks, county buildings, city buildings, etc.)
Large Businesses (at least 50 employees)
Tribes
Non-Profits

Located Outside of the Flag Program Boundaries?

If you are located outside of the Flag Program Boundaries, ADEQ created a Community Air Quality Toolkit, which explains air quality for areas where ADEQ forecasts only one or two pollutants | View >

Sign Up in Three Easy Steps

Step 1: Watch an Overview Video of the Program and Read the Handbook | View Handbook > | Watch Video >

Step 2: Request physical and/or digital flags | Get Flags >

Physical Flags — Fly the green, yellow, or orange flag at your organization to reflect the daily air quality forecast. The estimated time commitment is 5 — 10 minutes per day.
Digital Flags — Display an image of the green, yellow, or orange flag on a digital marquee to reflect the daily air quality forecast. Plain text for marquees lacking image capability are also available. The estimated time commitment is 5 minutes per day.

Flag Color Key

Green — Air quality is good. Weather permitting, it’s a great day to be outside.

Yellow — Air quality is moderate, but may be a health concern to those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Watch for symptoms and reduce prolonged outdoor exertion.

Orange — High Pollution Advisory (HPA) — Air quality is or could be unhealthy and is forecast to be above the federal health standard. Depending on the severity of the HPA, more people may begin to experience health effects. When you see the orange flag, check the air quality forecast to see the level of estimated air pollution and what time of day the worst air quality is expected. Watch for symptoms and reduce prolonged outdoor exertion.

Step 3: Three Daily Duties

Check the daily air quality forecast and fly the corresponding flag | View >
Educate and inform
Voluntarily adjust outdoor activities, if necessary

Additional Guidance

Watch for Symptoms

When exposed to elevated levels of air pollution, common symptoms to watch for are irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, including coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. You may need to take breaks, choose less-intense outdoor activities (e.g., walking instead of running), or move activities indoors. Air pollution may also make asthma symptoms worse and trigger attacks. Those with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep quick-relief medicine handy on moderate to unhealthy days.

Dust

If you are located in the lower deserts of Arizona, then it is not uncommon to see dust, especially during the monsoon season. But, there are several dust sources to be aware of including: wind-driven dust from the desert or fields, crushing and grinding operations, and dust disturbed from driving on dirt roads. Dust can also be transported in from other states.

If you are experiencing dust caused by the weather (i.e., dust storms, high winds, dust transport), the best way to protect your health is to go/stay indoors. This kind of dust is generally more widespread and can often last for hours. However, if the dust is generated by local activity, it will vary more in intensity and duration, as well as be more isolated in nature. Human-caused dust can be more unpredictable than weather-caused dust! For more information about dust, view the Particulate Matter (PM) Fact Sheet | View >

Smoke

If you can smell smoke, you’re breathing it in, but how can you tell how bad the smoke levels are?

First of all, you can check to see if there is a portable air quality monitor for particulates in/near your area. You can view ADEQ’s network of Portable Particulate Monitors | View >

However, this network is limited. So, if you don’t live in a location with a monitor, or if the nearest one is not representative of your location, you can use the 5-3-1 Rule. This is a simple method by which you can gauge the air quality by the visibility in/around your location. Learn more about it on our Wildfire Frequently Asked Questions page (see #9) | Visit Page >

Another resource you may find useful is online webcams, which allow you to see visibility conditions around the state:

ADEQ Phoenix | View >
ADEQ Yuma and Nogales | View >
ADOT Highways | View >

If smoke is nearby, see the precautions listed in ADEQ’s Fire, Smoke, & Your Health Brochure | View >