Enhance Language & Cultural Accessible Wildfire Preparedness Education

During discussions with the various partners who deal with communities that may not speak English as their first language, a need to provide materials related to fire resiliency in various languages was identified. In addition to written materials, potential other barriers exist to providing real access to support and information. Trusted partners within each community should be identified, and interviewed, to determine how to best provide support for various demographics. Lompoc has a diverse set of community members, with approximately 43,000 residents, and an ethnic composition that includes the following: Hispanic or Latino: 55%, White (Non-Hispanic): 30%, Black or African American: 5%, Asian: 3%, Other races: 7%. It should be noted that within the Hispanic or Latino category, there are several subsets that don't understand traditional Spanish, such as the Mixteco, who speak a provential dialect. There are also a number of Chumash residents who have relayed the need to receive information during an emergency from a trusted source within their community. These types of cultural barriers should be addressed proactively to understand how and where to provide infomation, and what type of "safe space" can be provided to them in the event of a fire or other emergency. Once the initial interviews have been conducted, information regarding how to best reach the identified network of leaders within each demographic community should be kept with key agencies, such as OEM and the fire department so they can mobilize during an emergency situation.

Status: Conceptual

Cost: Low cost

Partners: Santa Barbara Fire Safe Council (SBFSC), Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICO), Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Chumash Community