A detailed survey conducted in East Palo Alto by San Mateo County Health and the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District revealed that residents are prepared for emergencies, but many face barriers.
Since climate change can increase the frequency of natural disasters and contribute to increased mosquitoes due to warm weather and increased rainfall, the survey sought feedback on the prevalence of mosquitoes and other pests, extreme heat, rising sea levels and flooding, wildfires and air quality.
Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) is used by epidemiologists and local governments to plan emergency response and assess community resources, needs, and perceptions.
Compared to the general population of San Mateo County, East Palo Alto residents have lower income levels, less access to health care, and higher rates of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic than other cities in the county.
Half of residents in the survey said they had an emergency kit with supplies to prepare for a power outage, earthquake or other disaster, while 58 percent had signed up for SMC Alert, the county's emergency alert system to warn the public about impending threats and evacuation notices.
The survey delved into the details of household emergency preparedness, asking whether residents kept copies of important documents (38.9 percent), identified an out-of-town emergency contact (34.2 percent) and had an emergency communication plan for family and friends to stay in touch (32 percent).
Other questions probed preferred ways to receive emergency alerts (text messages, 44.8 percent) and barriers to communication during an emergency. Seventy-five percent reported no barriers, while 16 percent of respondents cited difficulty with English as a challenge.
The report The survey notes the significantly lower median household income for East Palo Alto residents ($96,349), compared to the county as a whole ($136,837), contributing to greater vulnerability, especially when faced with climate change.
The analysis also notes that “Like surrounding regions, East Palo Alto is also experiencing an increased number of extreme heat days in a year, which can cause heat-related illnesses or exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions among vulnerable populations, including seniors and young children.”
While emergency preparedness indicators were relatively high, residents were largely unaware (74.5 percent) of utility assistance and reimbursement programs to help with air conditioning.
The share of adults without health insurance coverage in 2019 was 23.6 percent, compared with 12.1 percent in the county.
And despite data suggesting the need, few residents were aware of the free services of the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District, which residents can call for help with mosquito, rodent, wasp and hornet problems.
“Our district’s work is data-driven,” said Brian Weber, district manager for Vector Control. “The data in this report will help us strategically strengthen our outreach efforts to make residents more aware of the taxpayer-funded services we provide to everyone living in the county.”
Conducted over three days in October 2022, trained field interviewers conducted a rapid needs assessment called CASPER in English and Spanish, following a methodology to ensure randomly selected and geographically representative households.
“The data is really valuable in helping local governments and community-based organizations identify gaps and opportunities for greater engagement,” said Karen Pfister, the county’s health epidemiology program manager and one of the CASPER project leaders.
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