Affordable Housing Resilience Training
On Thursday, March 25th SCANPH convened for a unique workshop focused on equipping affordable housing providers in Southern California with tools and knowledge needed to prepare for and respond to future disasters. This session was co-sponsored by Enterprise, SCANPH, Arup and the City of Los Angeles.
Please click here to watch a recording of the training (Passcode: $3E8YxB*).
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and the critical role that housing and community development organizations play in emergency response. This informative session highlighted the many challenges faced by Angelenos in 2020, specifically focusing on how climate events caused an increase in hospital visits at a time when hospitals were already overcrowded with COVID-19 patients. The climate and health crises of the past year have disproportionately impacted low-income communities and communities of color.
Los Angeles is ranked notably high on the FEMA Risk Index, a result of inflated property values and the wide range of natural disasters to which Los Angeles County is susceptible. While the Los Angeles region has always faced elevated risk areas of earthquakes, this past year has introduced new risks such as the pandemic, civil disturbances and acts of domestic terror. According to the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science & Society, subsidized housing is often hit hardest by earthquakes. Los Angeles’ future holds worsening wet and dry climate extremes, paired with increasing wildfire risk. The loss of utilities has become a huge threat for at-risk individuals with underlying health conditions, especially when extreme heat events occur. As marginalized people are often hit the hardest by extreme disasters, individuals experiencing homelessness are most impacted.
Enterprise Community Partners’ Ready to Respond Disaster Staffing Toolkit helps organizations develop staffing plans to continue operations during and after a disaster. Laurie Schoeman of Enterprise Community Partners led a detailed review of Enterprise’s toolkit, helping affordable housing providers gauge their organizational preparedness. As Schoeman noted, lacking preparedness puts communities at risk and exposes both investors and residents to disasters. As communities attempt to figure out a ‘new normal,’ the digital business continuity toolkit, developed by multiple agencies, aids in disaster preparedness by ensuring that organizations have an easy to use tool to respond to disaster. Sign up to access the FREE ready to respond tool here: https://businesscontinuity.enterprisecommunity.org/?_ga=2.251102790.1782780441.1616610577-1137384239.1564091204
You can also sign up for Ready LA by texting 888777 to receive important messages from the City of Los Angeles.
A second toolkit, Ready Your LA Neighborhood Tool (RYLAN) presented by the City of Los Angeles’ Emergency Management Department, was presented by Jon Brown and Jillian De Vela outlined and outlined tools to help develop resident and building preparedness. Further, this tool promotes preparedness for all city departments, residents and businesses, leading a citywide effort in disaster mitigation. The program helps families develop communication plans and build emergency preparedness kits.
Ready to Respond Business Continuity Toolkit from Enterprise Community Partners
Ready Your LA Neighborhood from the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department