On June 1, the season of natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes began in the United States. Experts are calling for preparation for a prolonged, potentially deadly period of these phenomena, which requires solutions that allow for the construction of long-term climate-resilient infrastructure and prosperous economies.
This was stated by activists from Florida, Oregon, California, Louisiana and Texas during a session with the media held by Ethnic Media Services, where they stressed the importance of pressuring elected leaders to address what they say is the U.S.'s failed disaster relief system.
Ashley Shelton, founder and president of the Louisiana Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, highlighted the importance of monetary assistance for those who have lost and suffered from the effects of natural phenomena such as extreme rainfall, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires, among others.
He said that those affected are using everything they have to survive and save what they can, leaving them bankrupt and owing a lot of money, since the resources they normally have to pay bills and make various necessary purchases are diverted to expenses such as hotels and food available at the time.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should be the first to respond to affected areas, but, Shelton said, “they don’t show up until two weeks after the storm. And what that does is it creates this gap where people are desperate, they’re reeling and they’re hurting.”
After Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana in 2021, killing more than 100 people, Shelton's organization was able to raise around $200,000 just one week after the event to help those affected cover basic expenses after many insurers failed to respond to their customers in a timely and satisfactory manner.
In this regard, he explained that work has been done to approve legislation regarding insurance companies and ensure that they are responsible to their clients in the event of incidents such as natural disasters.
She also noted that the organization she leads has organized a couple of different workshops throughout the state to talk about what is available in the community at these events, in an effort to obtain economic aid that effectively reaches those most in need, as well as how to make the government accountable.
Having the necessary documentation has also become a critical point during contingencies, because many times, during these catastrophic events, important papers are lost and it is difficult for insurers or banks to obtain them, as it requires long and complicated processes.
"The only thing that really works in a disaster is the community coming together to help each other," Ashley said.
While FEMA's support is important and necessary, the support and networks that the community can weave to support each other in the face of such disasters is critical.
In this regard, he stressed that, in discussions at both the federal and state level, the organization is promoting the idea of granting tax credits to victims, such as the possibility that people living in the contingency area receive $500 during the first three months after a disaster is declared.
Preparing for natural disasters in the US without speaking English
Daysi Bedolla Sotelo, director of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), a union representing farmworkers in Oregon, noted that the information provided to those affected is mostly in English, which limits assistance to people who need it.
Oregon faces severe drought and an imminent risk of serious wildfires that could devour entire towns.
The concern, he said, is latent when, although there are alerts about these fires or contingencies, not everyone can understand the information, since there are no resources in Spanish, or in indigenous languages.
"We have a large population from different countries, of course, but also indigenous languages are often not taken into consideration and we are only talking about Spanish, but there are many other dialects that are also spoken and that has been a great concern for agricultural workers," he said.
He pointed out that these farm workers, who are exposed to heat and toxicity due to smoke, are not taken into account.
"They are the ones who are providing the food on our tables and they were not being protected," he said.
The organization is already working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - an agency of the United States Department of Labor - to make a series of presentations in which agricultural workers can learn, in different languages, how to prepare for forest fires and where to find the necessary resources.
This includes what documents to have on hand and how to prepare an emergency backpack, among other details that they believe they may know, but are not ready.
Bedolla explained that they have gone to labor camps and farms where community members are known to work, in order to ensure that they are informed and prepared for major contingencies.
He recalled that two years ago, when the first major fire hit, it was devastating for the communities, where many lost their homes, and right after that a winter storm came, so they hope that this year things will turn out much better for everyone thanks to the preparation.
Accessibility is another recurring theme in these phenomena, since, in addition to language, people face not having a smartphone or even internet.
Oregon is preparing for another heat wave, one that may be more severe than the one experienced in 2021 – which was classified as the most severe in the last 20 years due to the high temperatures recorded – where even a farmworker lost his life.
While it is unpredictable what will happen in terms of the number of such events, he said, "unfortunately we have to be prepared."
Finally, she highlighted that undocumented farmworkers can receive help from FEMA after devastating natural phenomena, however, “it has been extremely challenging when it comes to agencies. We have made efforts and we have been able to secure funding for our undocumented individuals, because as you all know, they do not qualify for stimulus checks.”
Last season, the state and three sister organizations had to set up an emergency fund for undocumented farmers who were too scared to go to government agencies for help, she said. “They don’t know what the repercussions will be,” Bedolla said.
Mental health and disasters
In addition to the economic and physical impact, natural disasters also have an impact on the mental health of survivors.
According to Chrishelle Palay, executive director of the HOME Coalition in Houston, Texas is no stranger to natural disasters, knowing them well, from severe winter storms to tropical storms and hurricanes.
An example of this was the 2021 winter storm, Yuri, which recorded temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit, and which left thousands in Texas without electricity due to failures in the electrical grid, leaving the community suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
“We were left in freezing conditions and darkness for four days and in some areas even for weeks,” Palay recalled. “After temperatures rose and the pipes heated up, another disaster struck when the pipes burst and we were left without running water.”
The circumstances experienced at the beginning of 2021, and in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, Texans along the Gulf Coast live in concern and uncertainty, not only about the proper functioning of the electrical grid, but also about the deterioration of conditions that are worsened by these extreme events.
“Harvey happened almost five years ago, and unfortunately low-income communities of color continue to live in leaky roofs and homes with moldy ceilings and walls. We are concerned about the continued exacerbation of problems that already existed,” she said.
He stressed that the coalition he leads is already working with the community and Houston County to address the main needs of residents, who are afraid of losing more than just material things.
Climate migration and the need for a home
Activist MacKenzie Marcelin, climate justice manager for Florida Rising, added that housing access and affordability remain a key concern for many, particularly low-income residents in states like Florida where costs have risen sharply, leading to forced migration.
"Many people are experiencing housing insecurity, not knowing where they are going to live next. Going into this hurricane season, it's a big concern," he said.
Marcelin and other activists are coordinating the “Justice on Every Block Campaign,” which seeks to pressure local and state governments for greater accountability and oversight of property owners throughout Florida, ensuring that they comply with local safety ordinances and implement anti-discrimination housing policies.
Among the measures, he reported that they are also promoting 90-day eviction notices for pregnant women and tenants with children.
"We believe housing is a right, so we are trying to pass a bill to protect tenants and make sure they have as many rights as these developers."
She also stressed that they work with other organizations that focus on environmental justice, such as some universities that offer research on the subject.
“Some of them have also been great partners and we know that we have been more successful when we work collectively with everyone. It’s about looking for the intersections where we can all come together. And at the end of the day, we’re all living on this earth and we’re all at the mercy of what’s happening with climate change. It’s affecting us in very different ways. But at the end of the day it’s affecting all of us.”
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