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. 2025 Jul 23;3(8):qxaf147.
doi: 10.1093/haschl/qxaf147. eCollection 2025 Aug.

Inequities in weathering California wildfires

Michelle S Wong  1 , W Neil Steers  1 , Donna L Washington  1   2
Affiliations

Inequities in weathering California wildfires

Michelle S Wong et al. Health Aff Sch. .

Abstract

Two separate wildfires in different Los Angeles communities illustrate the disparate effects of and recovery from wildfires. Our comparison of patient and community characteristics of Veterans living in the affected areas related to social vulnerability identified specific vulnerabilities, and can inform policy levers to support more equitable disaster response and recovery efforts.

Keywords: Social Vulnerability Index; emergency response; health equity; social determinants of health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: Please see ICMJE form(s) for author conflicts of interest. These have been provided as supplementary materials.

References

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    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program . CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability 2022 Index California. Accessed January 22, 2025. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/place-health/php/svi/svi-data-documentation-do...
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