Racial disparities are working against disaster recovery for people of color. Climate change could make it worse

“Until we really address the root issues of climate injustice, we’re going to continue to see a disproportionate impact as it relates to disasters in Black and historically excluded communities,” said Abre’ Conner, Director of Environmental and Climate Justice for the NAACP.A report by the EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs looked at four vulnerable social groups: people living on low-income, racial minorities, those with no high school diploma, and seniors over age 65.

Willis’ group deploys equity response teams before and after disasters to help community organizations integrate equity into all facets of disaster policy and practices. She started I-DIEM after spending over 14 years in disaster management. The future is concerning; marginalized communities historically endured long-term effects from disasters.

“Poverty should not hinder survival from disasters. Being a person that is not White shouldn’t limit your survival,” said Willis. In 2020, FEMA’s advisory council acknowledged the inequities and called for the agency to address the issue. FEMA says these changes have enabled 124,000 survivors to access over $709 million in assistance they would have previously been ineligible to receive.“I think that in earnest they are trying to correct, but we can still do better in pushing to ensure these recoveries are equitable,” said Art delaCruz, CEO of Team Rubicon. This veteran-led humanitarian organization assists global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises.

For Team Rubicon, that means using tools like the CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index. The index, launched by the Center for Disease Control and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, uses 16 variables to help emergency planners and officials identify vulnerable communities before, during, or after disasters. Those variables include social factors like poverty, lack of transportation, and crowded housing.

“Our goal has always been to leave a community in a better place and be there for the long-term commitment to that, Ray added.

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