Why this group of Californians is especially vulnerable to wildfires, pandemics

Sep. 8--A deadly 2017 wildfire on California's Central Coast underscored the vulnerability of the state's undocumented immigrants and migrant workers, according to a new study that assessed who received help first from emergency response organizations.

During the Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, the study found well-off households tended to evacuate first and benefit from emergency aid while more vulnerable Californians continued going to work in unhealthy conditions and did not receive recovery assistance.

Ventura and Santa Barbara counties are home to an estimated 111,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the study.

Its authors, Michael Méndez, an assistant professor at the University of California Irvine, Genevieve Flores-Haro, of the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project, and Lucas Zucker, of the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, argue the state should do more to provide more disaster preparedness to undocumented immigrants.

"Disaster exasperates existing disparities," said Méndez, first author of the study.

Méndez said these disasters are foreseeable and called for local and state governments to plan ahead for all communities, including immigrants.

The report echoes a recent state audit into Butte, Sonoma and Ventura counties that found local government did not adequately protect vulnerable populations with limited English proficiency.

The audit found none of the counties sent evacuation notices in languages other than English during the 2018 Camp Fire, the 2017 Sonoma Complex fires or the 2017 Thomas Fire.

In Census areas with a majority Black, Latino, or Native American population, communities of color are 50% more vulnerable to wildfires compared to other areas, according to the new study.

The study authors quote farmworkers who remained in the fields while unhealthy, smoky conditions set in during the Thomas Fire Some.

One farmworker from Oxnard quoted in the study said she worked three days without a mask during the fire.

"It caused me headaches and watery eyes, as well as a cough," she said. "We were scared because we were very near where the fire was occurring. The masks were not handed out until the state came to regulate."

Another farmworker said he didn't receive critical information about evacuations before going to work.

"The smoke irritated our eyes and we couldn't work because the whole sky was covered in smoke. That's when they finally sent us home," he said. "We didn't receive information about evacuations or any emergency information before then."

Impact on farmworkers

Immigrants routinely face racial discrimination, exploitation, economic hardships, less English and Spanish proficiency and fear of deportation, according to the researchers.

In areas where vulnerable communities could not be reached, local advocacy organizations stepped in to provide services like emergency information in Spanish and indigenous languages and a private disaster relief fund for undocumented immigrants who didn't qualify for federal disaster aid, the study said.

"The onus now is on state and local governments to plan ahead for all communities, particularly the most vulnerable," Méndez said.

A wealthy household that loses a home in a fire could be protected by homeowner's insurance, he said, whereas undocumented immigrants might not have those safeguards in place.

Harmful effects from wildfire smoke could affect immigrant workers who work outside without access to personal protective equipment, researchers noted. The study also recognized undocumented immigrants are less likely to ask for help during or after a disaster for fear of deportation

"These individuals are already exposed to pesticides, and their immigration status, economic precarity and lack of transportation can prevent them from receiving health care or regulatory relief," researchers wrote.

Méndez views the Thomas Fire as a turning point for local and state government institutions to better acknowledge immigrant community needs during disasters.

In the study, researchers called for improved language access for emergency information, funding for community-based organizations, a permanent statewide disaster relief fund for undocumented immigrants and health care coverage for unauthorized workers.

Had it not been for the lessons learned in the 2017 Thomas Fire, Méndez believes Latinos and immigrants would have faced far worse outcomes during the coronavirus pandemic. Latinos, who account for 39% of the state population, represent more than half of the state's COVID-19 cases and nearly half of COVID-19 deaths.

Listos California

Last summer, Gov. Newsom announced the launch of a state emergency preparedness campaign, Listos California, which translates from Spanish to Ready California. He also granted $50 million for local disaster resilience grants.

The campaign was created to reach vulnerable immigrant communities about disaster preparedness like wildfires, earthquakes and natural disasters.

"While COVID is top to mind in places where there's been a spike, wildfires are ... our top priority for this campaign," said Justin Knighten, co-chair of Listos California.

The organization is developing a disaster preparedness guide for farmworkers, according to Karen Baker, architect and co-chair of Listos California. The guide will contain information about disaster preparedness and where to obtain rent and food resources. The campaign also features five steps Californians can take to prepare for a disaster, like signing up for alerts, making a plan, packing a "go" bag, preparing a "stay" box and helping friends and neighbors.

"We're all vulnerable, certainly, but it is especially important to recognize that there are communities among us that have a need for special focus," she said.

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