June 1 marked the beginning of the season of natural disasters in the U.S., such as forest fires and hurricanes. In view of this, experts are calling to prepare for a prolonged period of these phenomena, which is potentially deadly, requiring solutions to build long-term climate-resilient infrastructures and prosperous economies.
This was stated by activists from Florida, Oregon, California, Louisiana and Texas during a media session conducted by Ethnic Media Serviceswhere they stressed the importance of pressuring elected leaders to address what they say is a failing U.S. natural disaster relief system.
Ashley Shelton, founder and president of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana, highlighted the importance of monetary assistance for those who have lost and suffered from the inclemencies of natural phenomena such as extreme rains, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires, among others.
And, he said, those affected resort to everything they have to survive and save what they can, becoming bankrupt and owing a lot of money, because 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 responder in the affected places, yet, Shelton said, "it doesn't show up until two weeks after the storm. And what it does is create this gap where people are desperate, they're reeling and suffering."
After Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana in 2021, killing more than 100 people, Shelton's organization was able to raise about $200,000 just one week after the event to help all those affected cover basic expenses after many insurers failed to respond to their clients in a satisfactory and timely manner.
In this regard, he explained that work has been done to pass legislation regarding insurance companies and to ensure that they are responsible to their clients in the event of natural disasters.
At the same time, he noted that the organization he leads has managed a couple of different workshops around the state to talk about what is available in the community at those events. In an effort to get financial assistance that effectively reaches those most in need, as well as how to hold the government accountable.
Having the necessary documentation has also become a critical point during contingencies, since many times, during these catastrophic events, important papers are lost and it is difficult to obtain them from insurance companies or banks, since 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 pointed out that, in conversations at both the federal and state levels, the organization is promoting the idea of granting tax credits to victims, such as the possibility that people living in the contingency area will receive US$500 during the first three months after a disaster is declared.
Preparing for natural disasters in the U.S. 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 basically in English, which limits help to people who need it.
Oregon faces severe drought and an imminent risk of severe wildfires that could devour entire populations.
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, as well as in indigenous languages.
"We have a large population from different countries, of course, but also indigenous languages many of the times are 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 big concern for farm workers," he said.
He pointed out that these field 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, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor ? OSHA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor, to produce a set of presentations in which agricultural workers can learn, in different languages, how to prepare for wildfires and where to look for the necessary resources.
That includes, what documents to have on hand and how to prepare an emergency backpack, among other details that you think you may know, but are not ready.
Bedolla explained that they have gone to the labor camps and farms where community members are known to work to make sure that they are being informed and prepared for major contingencies.
He recalled that, two years ago, when the first major fire came, it was devastating for the communities, where many lost their homes, and right after that came a winter storm, so they hope that this year things will turn out much better for everyone in preparation.
Accessibility is another recurring theme in these phenomena, since, in addition to language, people are faced with not having a smartphone or even the internet.
Oregon is bracing for another heat wave, one perhaps even more severe than the one experienced in 2021 - which was rated as the most severe in the last 20 years due to the high temperatures recorded - where a farm worker lost his life.
While it is unpredictable to know what will happen with respect to the number of such events, he said, "unfortunately we have to be prepared."
Finally, he noted that undocumented farm workers can receive assistance from FEMA after devastating natural events, however, "it has been extremely challenging when it comes to agencies. We have struggled and have been able to secure funding for our undocumented individuals, because as you all know, they do not qualify for stimulus checks."
Thus, he recalled that last season, the state and three sister organizations had to establish an emergency fund for undocumented farmers, who were too scared to go to government agencies for help. 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, from severe winter storms to tropical storms to hurricanes.
Case in point, the winter storm of 2021, Yuri, which recorded temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit and left thousands in Texas without power due to grid failures, left 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 the temperatures rose and the pipes warmed up, another disaster occurred when the pipes burst and we were left without running water."
The circumstances experienced in early 2021, and in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, Texans along the Gulf Coast live in worry and uncertainty, not only about the proper functioning of the power grid, but also about deteriorating conditions worsening due to 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 roofs and walls. We are concerned about the continued exacerbation of problems that already existed," he said.
In light of this, he stressed that the coalition he leads is already working with the community and Houston County to address the main needs of the residents, who are afraid of losing more than the material.
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, especially low-income residents in states like Florida, where costs have risen sharply, leading to forced migration.
"Many people experience 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 coordinate the "Justice on Every Block Campaign," which seeks to pressure local and state governments for greater accountability and oversight of landlords throughout Florida, ensuring that they comply with local safety ordinances and implement policies against housing discrimination.
Among the measures, he reported that they are also pushing for 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."
At the same time, he emphasized 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 we were more successful when we worked collectively with everyone. It's about looking for the intersections where we can all agree. And at the end of the day, we're all living on this earth and we're all at the expense 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."
You may be interested in: Master Plan unveiled to restore Los Angeles River environs
