• Solid waste agencies • Mass care entities such as the American Red Cross • Legal support
• Local business
lack of access to technology to improve indoor air contaminated with wildfire smoke and ash. Ensure all members of the public have access to and input into activities and actions being taken to recover from a wildfire experience. This can be accomplished through messaging, community meetings, and establishing local assistance centers. It is important that public messaging and how it is distributed consider EJ communities and their access to information about exposure to wildfire smoke. For example, if web-based information is exclusively used, it might not be accessible at homes of all impacted communities and popula - tions. One must consider equal access by everyone to the information and processes that are being considered or implemented. Cross-Sector/Specialty Partners During the course of a wildfire and during recovery operations, there may be opportunities to establish partnerships with businesses or non-profit entities. These private-public partnerships (P3) are defined as any type of mutually beneficial cooperative arrangement, informal or formal, between two or more organizations to enhance the life safety, eco - nomic security ad resilience of jurisdictions. 68 These partnerships serve to increase scale, should be replicable and sustainable, improve effectiveness, increase efficiency, and create systemic changes that help solve global challenges in supply chains and communities alike. 69 While an environmental public health employee may not be involved with the formation of a P3, they may see these partnerships in action when they are in the field following a major disaster or wildfire. Private companies and NGOs providing various levels of supplies and services for disaster communities, partnerships with large facilities and institutions to provide mass care, animal care NGOs who assist with animal recovery and housing, and many more depending on the incident or event. In many situations, the development of these partnerships is complex and involves many factors to align in order to be sustainable and successful. There is a growing body of information and guid - ance on how best to create these P3s and how to navigate the many complexities. Emergency Support Functions (ESF) in several states provide guidance and coordinate issues with the business community in all phases of emergency manage - ment. 70
assistance entities such as restaurant and market associations • Small Business Administration
DACs can be specific to a particular process such as a point to obtain and complete rights of entry agreements, or more generic, covering a broad spectrum of services. In some wildfires, more than one DAC can be established because of the dis - tance covered or the location of population centers or evacuees. Each agency, including environmental public health, will need to determine what to bring to the DAC in the form of information and how to staff the loca- tion. For example, in rural jurisdictions there may be a lot of questions regarding drinking water wells, septic systems, and removal processes of hazard - ous waste and debris. Staff possessing this knowl - edge is desired and may lead to several staff at the same DAC. Staff need to be prepared to experience the grief and frustration felt by people and their commu - nities who are coming to the DAC. Dealing with emotional people on a constant and ongoing basis requires management to be watchful and mindful of signs, symptoms and relief for staff working in the DAC. Environmental Justice/Equity Environmental justice (EJ), as defined by the US EPA, is the fair treatment and meaningful involve - ment of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. 67 While wildfires are not purely an EJ issue, the impacts on people of lesser means can be significant. Environmental public health staff must be cog - nizant of not only traditional EJ communities but also elderly and other infirmed individuals. When distributing flyers and guidance, ensure they are provided in the primary languages spoken in the impacted communities and ensure community meetings have live interpretation available. Environmental justice and equity issues have seen increasing attention as it relates to wildfires and particularly the exposure to wildfire smoke and the
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