Friend, the 600 residents of Allensworth in California’s Central Valley are literally fighting back the floods as we speak.
In 1908, Allensworth became the first California town to be founded, financed, and governed entirely by African Americans. Now, in 2023, it is a predominantly Latine community caught on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
What is happening in Allensworth is a microcosm of the impact of global climate change. Residents have spent the last weeks evacuating livestock, filling sandbags, and fighting desperately for the time and resources they need to save their homes, families, and livelihoods.
We can make a difference in the long term by continuing to fight for bold, comprehensive climate action. But right now, our fellow Californians need urgent help.
You can contact the Allensworth Progressive Association through their website to learn more about how to support the Allensworth community directly.
Allensworth isn’t the only community caught in the path of catastrophic climate change. Across the state, floods, landslides, and storms are forcing evacuations and disrupting lives. If you live in an at-risk area, make sure you have a plan for what to do in an extreme weather event, and what to do after.
The California Department of Social Services (DSS) provides a comprehensive guide to disaster assistance services for Californians, including information about shelters, food, health, property loss, employment, and more, available HERE.
For immigrant Californians, including undocumented people, additional information is available in English.
Información sobre servicios de asistencia para hispanohablantes, incluyendo inmigrantes indocumentados, está disponible AQUÍ.
For additional information about evacuation facilities, warming centers, and more, head over to the DSS homepage.
Together, we will get through this. Thank you, as always, for being an Environmental Voter.
