Population Research Discovery Seminars
Equity and Measurement Considerations in Migration After California Wildfires
Sameer Shah, Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington
Ethan Sharygin, Population Research Center, Portland State University
Mary Angelica Painter, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder
VIRTUAL ONLY
To Join By Zoom: Register HERE
02/07/2025
12:30-1:30 PM PT
Co-Sponsor(s):
This year started with the widespread devastation wrought from the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and other wildfires that broke out in Los Angeles County, California. As of January 10th, the fires destroyed over 10,000 buildings, displacing residents across the region. These wildfires highlight the pressing need to understand relocation patterns post-event to better inform state and local hazard mitigation planning, as well as recovery and reconstruction policy. We aim to understand migration dynamics associated with previous California wildfires using the California Consumer Credit Panel (CCCP) data to assess the direction and magnitude of movements and the role of housing and neighborhood characteristics in mediating migration outcomes, including the share and timing of displaced people who return to their neighborhoods. We assess the similarity of direction and magnitude of movements in the CCCP to other predictive models based on commute flows and postal service change-of-address data. We focus on concepts of social vulnerability and equity to conceptualize differences in outcomes for various populations.
Dr. Sameer Shah is a John C. Garcia Professor and Assistant Professor of Climate Adaptation in the School of Environmental & Forest Sciences at the University of Washington. He is also an Affiliate with the UW Center for Studies in Demography in Ecology, Center for Environmental Politics, and Clean Energy Institute. Dr. Shah holds expertise in the human dimensions of climate change vulnerability and adaptation. He aims to understand how systemic marginalization, and climate-related change and disasters interact to create and amplify uneven water, food, and energy insecurities for communities on the frontlines of climate change. In particular, his research develops theoretical, conceptual, and empirical analyses of the equity, justice, and sustainability outcomes of climate adaptation and disaster response at multiple scales. At SEFS, Dr. Shah directs the WATERS Research Collaborative (Water, Adaptation & Transformation: Equity, Resilience and Sustainability).
Ethan Sharygin is the Director of the Population Research Center at Portland State University, which annually produces population estimates and forecasts, analyzes census data to support policy research and implementation, and represents Oregon in partnerships with the U.S. Census Bureau. His recent work focuses on census data quality and related methodology, including methods for geographic allocation of census microdata and methods of evaluating census coverage and quality. His research also addresses demography-related topics in health research including assignment of race and ethnicity in survey data and implications for health measurement and consequences of disaster including famine and wildfire. Sharygin has a B.A. degree from the University of Washington, an M.P.P. from UC Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in demography from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Mary Angelica Painter is a political scientist with expertise in political and governance dimensions of vulnerability to natural hazards. She is a research associate for the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder and a CONVERGE Data Ambassador. Dr. Painter’s research interests include developing and adopting new ways to understand and engage with socially vulnerable communities in the context of natural hazards, while also incorporating the effects of the role of government, policy, and politics in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, relief, and recovery. Her research is driven by a philosophy of collaboration, where community, decisionmakers, researchers, and everyday people are involved in identifying problems and finding solutions together for those who are in most need.