As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, having an emergency plan isn’t just important—it’s essential, especially when we have the safety of those we care for in our hands. Along with climate change increasing the occurrences of natural disasters, we are also faced with environmental injustices that directly impact our health and quality of life. We need to be able to respond in the best and safest way possible during times of extreme heat, wildfires, poor air quality, earthquakes, hurricanes, and severe rainstorms that cause flooding, as well as when our water systems are polluted.
The resources needed to keep ourselves and our clients safe and supported during these crises are often out of reach because there are limited resources offered to providers for emergency planning. Low wages combined with the high costs of living and care make it nearly impossible to have equipment like air conditioning, efficient air purifiers, and reliable vehicles for evacuation situations.
As members of UDW, we are union strong, and our voices make a strong impact in our communities and legislation at the state level. We must continue to advocate for legislation that aims to address environmental injustices so that we can secure protections and benefits for care workers like us and for our clients.
Fellow care providers like Allison Davis are speaking up about the need for higher wages and safety standards and regulations for natural disaster emergencies. Earlier this year, Allison faced rising electricity bills and home insurance rates due to heat waves and wildfires. During a recent wildfire evacuation watch, while ash fell and darkened the sky, Davis had to manage both her responsibility to the children in her care and the safety of her own family. Without proper guidance for family child care centers, Allison was faced with the tough choice of keeping her doors open while parents tried to make their way back from work to pick up their children.
But Allison’s story is one of hundreds that happen every year to both family child care and home care providers throughout the state! In any evacuation or environmental crisis, we are responsible for having everything we need for ourselves, our clients, and our loved ones. This includes shelter and ensuring our clients have life-saving essentials like oxygen tanks and medications.
Our voices need to be included in the fight for basic rights like clean air and water, both of which are under threat by human-made crises. Failing water treatment plants, along with air pollution caused by an overabundance of industrial businesses and oil refineries in our areas are impacting our health. We and our clients face higher risks for asthma and other serious illnesses due to these conditions, especially in counties like Kern or the Southern region of San Diego.
That’s why, earlier this year, UDW stood alongside countless organizations and legislators to fight for the change we deserve in our communities! We supported SB 1208 (Padilla), which would halt the development of a new landfill from being built near the Tijuana River Valley, where a failing water treatment plant has already caused high pollutants. We have also backed AB 98 (Carrillo and Reyes), a bill aimed at establishing buffering zones and new warehouse protocols to protect communities impacted by vehicle emissions from nearby truck routes.
The work is far from over. We must keep fighting to protect ourselves and those we care for! by actively participating in local elections and advocating for stronger environmental protections.
Each of us and those in our care deserve to be safe in any crisis— and we cannot do this if we don’t stand together to fight against environmental injustices.
