Listos California Partners Prepare Californians for Summer Challenges

From wildfire threats to extreme heat and power outages, Listos California and its diverse network of community-based partners are empowering Californians to face the summer season with resilience.

The range and scope of these partners provides a window into the breadth of the Listos California community-based organizations team. These trusted messengers, with deep roots in their respective communities and a diverse range of missions, strengths and competencies, are at the heart of building preparedness and resiliency across California.

One such organization, UpValley Family Resource Centers, plays a pivotal role in providing comprehensive support and guidance to families and seniors in rural Napa Valley. With a focus on building on existing strengths, addressing unmet needs, and fostering resilience, UpValley engages in year-round preparedness outreach and education. Recently their Promotoras delivered an interactive presentation based on Listos California’s Disaster Ready Guide. Joined by a representative from a local credit union, they offered valuable insights on affordable renters insurance tailored to disaster preparedness. Moreover, thanks to the support of local partners, UpValley distributed $25 gift cards to attending families as “seed money” for their stay boxes, in addition to providing one year of renters insurance to each family. Over 60 families directly benefited from this initiative, while thousands more receive daily preparedness guidance through home visits, presentations, and community events.

Deep in California’s Central Valley, Lily of the Valley Church dedicates itself to daily disaster preparedness outreach. The church’s outreach team actively engages with community members at various events, including food distributions, swap meets, and the weekly market. Additionally, they have been invited to present at neighboring churches, further expanding their reach. Inspired by their participation as a Listos California grantee, Bishop John Smith and his team have readied their Fellowship Hall to quickly transform into a cooling/charging station during times of extreme heat and power outages. Equipped with air conditioning, a filtered water system, a backup generator, and a large, comfortable space, the church stands ready to provide respite and charging facilities whenever the need arises.

Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), a crisis response organization committed to aiding underserved communities across the globe, partners with Listos California to focus on disaster preparedness and climate resilience in Los Angeles County. CORE’s approach centers on empowering communities in times of crisis by actively listening to their needs and swiftly adapting their strategies accordingly. In addition to regular preparedness activities, CORE recently organized a work day in an inner-city community garden, which not only serves as a vital gathering place but also supplies fresh produce to the neighborhood. Recognizing the fire risk posed by overgrown vegetation in this greenspace adjacent to a major freeway, CORE mobilized contractors to clear brush and debris.

When wildfires devastated communities in Siskiyou County in July and August 2022, CORE felt compelled to apply their expertise of disaster response in their own state. They went north to work alongside the Incident Management Team to coordinate critical needs for those affected by the McKinney Fire and work rapidly to protect vulnerable communities in the path of potential devastation. They focused on creating defensible spaces ahead of the fire (bringing in contractors to clean out gutters and roofs, clear vegetation), assisting with animal security, providing mobile charging and Wi-Fi stations, and helping residents with critical evacuation information. Their experience in Siskiyou will serve as a template for future needs.