The West Coast’s extreme heat and wildfires have another hidden danger
By Nate Berg
As repeated heatwaves blister urban residents and the West Coast regularly erupts in devastating wildfires, a disproportionate amount of low-income households are feeling the burn. According to recent research, a large amount of California’s subsidized housing is located in areas facing the risk of wildfire or the impacts of extreme heat—two problems only expected to get worse as the climate continues to change.
[...]
The location of these homes raises concerns over equity, safety, and resilience in the face of extreme events, Gabbe says. “We know that these households tend to have little or no savings,” he says. “Their inability to bounce back really justifies some kind of policy response.”
The root of these problems lies in how housing development and density is encouraged or discouraged, Gabbe says, especially when considering wildfire risk.
[...]
“We know that different policies would protect people, would reduce disparities,” Gabbe says. “So it’s a matter of thinking of the bigger picture and how do you use climate adaptation as a way to create a healthier overall population.”
[..]