East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto is a densely populated, ethnically diverse community with less than half the average income of neighboring Palo Alto. Over half of East Palo Alto is within a FEMA regulated flood area. Existing infrastructure, housing, and economic activity is extremely vulnerable to flooding. Past flooding in East Palo Alto has caused millions of dollars in damage and contributed to mold in homes, exacerbating the effects of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. According to a study from the City of East Palo Alto, the hospitalization rate due to asthma is 227% higher in East Palo Alto than in the rest of San Mateo County.
The East Palo Alto Climate Change Community Team (CCCT) was formed in 2019 as a part of “A Sea of Change,” a San Mateo County climate resilience and capacity building program. This group was composed of East Palo Alto residents, city officials, youth, and leaders from the faith and business communities and focuses on how the community can be better prepared to face the impacts of climate change.
The team’s first priority was to understand the general knowledge of climate change topics within the East Palo Alto community and what climate vulnerabilities existed. To that end, CRC led implementation of a climate change survey and Community-Led Vulnerability Assessment in 2020. The results of these projects continue to inform the CCCT’s current work.
EPA CCCT brainstorming climate vulnerabilities. 2019
East Palo Alto youth prepare to canvass for the climate change survey. 2019