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The LA County Wildfires & the Trauma of Sudden Displacement

 

Climate crises are ravaging the country, exacerbating serious health challenges. The Los Angeles County area is in the midst of some of the most difficult wildfires facing the state. However, displacement is not differentiated by social class or tax bracket. Celebrities like Jhene Aiko, John Legend, Tina Knowles and Bozoma “Boz” St. John have lost their homes. Many others not in the public eye were also displaced, including residents of Altadena, a community black people have lived and loved since the Great Migration.

It is difficult for the average person to obtain the resources needed to combat the effects of displacement. Western North Carolina continues to try to undo Extensive damage From the catastrophic Hurricane Helen that devastated communities across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Our neighborhoods are “sacrifice zones”

Journal of Climate Change and Health Reports state that “structural racism has led to sacrifice zones, which endure disproportionate exposure to pollution sources leading to health inequities” and “communities of color suffer from a syndrome of climate change, environmental injustice, and structural racism.”

Altadena was affected by the Eaton Fire, one of several wildfires in the area. This area has been a haven for black families for generations. White flight in the area Opportunities offered For residents who have had difficulty finding suitable housing due to red lines.

This tragedy has happened Altadena draw13,690 acres. The fire destroyed businesses, homes, places of worship, government offices, medical facilities, museums and community centers. Many Black families are left with limited resources after watching everything they have worked and sacrificed for disappear within hours. Many homeowners may have these Loss of fire insurance coverage In recent months.

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Some residents tried to protect their homes by exposing themselves to air pollutants and other potential health risks.

These climate crises bring health risks

Black people are particularly vulnerable to health challenges posed by extreme weather events. A 2022 article in the journal Current Environmental Health Reports stated, “Racially and socioeconomically marginalized communities in the USA have been shown to experience greater impacts from storm and flooding events, extreme heat, and infectious diseases that are becoming more frequent because climate is changing.”

The EPA issued a a report In 2021, it determined that “Black and African American individuals are 40% more likely than non-Black and African American individuals to currently live in areas with the highest projected increases in mortality rates due to climate-induced changes in temperature extremes.”

Impact on mental health

Hurricane Helen claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands more. United States Census Bureau Reported that more than half a million North Carolinians are living under a disaster declaration after Helen’s impact. These crises can affect the quality of an individual’s mental health.

Losing your home is a legitimate traumatic experience that sticks with you.

Rapper Meek Mill expressed his sympathy to Los Angeles area residents in a post on X. The Philadelphia native also used the platform to reveal his own experience with fire-related trauma. “PRAYER ON NO I never knew about fire trauma until my house caught fire….I would smell fire in my sleep and jump for 3 years. ..I didn’t know this kind of trauma existed, so I was dealing with it when I was a child!

January 2024 article in Current opinion in psychiatry He stated that “the prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, appears to be higher among the displaced.” In 2021, Journal of Affective Disorder Reports It found that “higher exposure to traumatic experiences and increased post-migration stress have been identified as risk factors for mental disorders in forcibly displaced populations.”

Even years later, it can have a lasting impact. Megan Collins, a licensed marriage, family and art therapist in Beverly Hills, California, spoke about what it might feel like for someone experiencing displacement due to the climate crisis. “It’s a shock to instantly lose everything you’ve ever known. This is your sense of stability. This is a basic human need that comes before everything else,” she told Black Health Matters.

Collins is currently offering free therapy sessions to those suffering from the effects of the Los Angeles wildfires.

“When you are a traumatized person, that trauma is stored in your body,” Collins said. This can be shown to be easily activated in situations where uncertainty exists.

“You may have long-term difficulty staying fully present in your life. It may be difficult to socialize and establish relationships. “It may be difficult to maintain employment,” Collins added. “Trauma can lead you to withdraw and isolate.” “It is disempowering,” Collins added. Really relationship.”

Forced displacement disrupts some of the community-building activities that underpin the life of the average person. There are no dance parties or parades. Moving into a new place does not immediately eliminate the hurt of losing a home. Collins explained that those experiencing the trauma of displacement will still need support when their suffering is no longer a common topic. “This crisis cannot be solved with simple solutions,” she said. “These people are going to have a really hard time, and they’re going to need a lot of support in the long term.”

Potential long-term health impact

Climate crises could prevent people from getting their medicine refills. Wildfires can cause potential physical health issues. Their effect can worsen chronic conditions or cause new ones. Those who suffer from autoimmune diseases or are at high risk of developing them can be severely affected by the decline in air quality they cause.

According to Journal of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases, “Long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with (a) higher risk of autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis, cumulative trauma disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease,” and “chronic exposure to levels above the human protective threshold was associated with a 10% reduction.” High risk of developing IIMIDs.

Journal of Autoimmune Reviews He stated that “smoke has been found to play a pathogenic role in some autoimmune diseases because it may lead to the development of autoantibodies and act on a pathogenic mechanism possibly linked to an imbalance in the immune system,” and “not only cigarette smoke but also air pollution.” It has been reported to be responsible for the development of autoimmunity.

Tropical cyclones and hurricanes can lead to poor health outcomes. “Storm flooding contaminates environmental, recreational, and drinking water sources,” and “extreme weather events have been associated with gastrointestinal illness or outbreaks of specific diseases,” according to a 2023 article in the journal Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Climate crises can lead to the spread of vector-borne pathogens, airborne pathogens, and nosocomial infections.

“Extreme rainfall creates stagnant floodwaters that contain contaminated runoff, sediment, debris, and waste that harbor fecal coliforms and enteric pathogens. These dangerous conditions are due in part to inefficient water systems and overflowing septic tanks.” American Society for Microbiology.

Collins noted that there could be situations where a person’s body reacts to the stress of losing their home to the climate crisis. “Our mental health impacts our physical health and vice versa, so you might see people who end up having some sort of autoimmune disease or other physiological symptoms as well,” she said.

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