Synopsis   

Dorchester County Health Department Emergency Preparedness Program conducted bilingual educational workshops for small cohorts of all-female seasonal migrant crab-picking workers that focused on health hazards associated with extreme coastal weather events in an effort to increase hurricane preparedness and extreme weather adaptation behaviors on an island in Maryland that is increasingly impacted by sea-level rise. 

Challenge

Most individuals within Dorchester County’s seasonal migrant aquaculture workforce temporarily reside on Hoopers Island in Maryland for the duration of Atlantic Hurricane Season. Most, if not all, also identified as an individual with limited English proficiency and no access to transportation. Based on intermediate IPCC scenarios, these inhabited islands are projected to be submerged by 2070, leaving many displaced residents in the near future. These migrant workers face significant barriers to health services on fair weather days including language barriers, lack of transportation, and limited health insurance coverage due to immigration status. During extreme weather events, these workers could be exposed to preventable injuries, dangerous communicable diseases, and hazardous living conditions. This program was intended to raise awareness around the health hazards potentially caused these extreme coastal weather events among this vulnerable population and to equip individuals with the knowledge to prepare for such emergencies whether they choose to shelter-in-place or evacuate.  

Solution

In collaboration with NACCHO partners, Dorchester County Health Department hosted four community-based workshops focused on the health hazards associated with coastal flooding and hurricanes among seasonal migrant workers on Hoopers Island, Maryland, ahead of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. These workshops aimed to strengthen adaptive capacity among this population in order to prevent excess morbidity and mortality associated with climate hazards impacting their temporary U.S. homes. Workshops were tailored to meet the needs of the migrant workers and were taught in Spanish. Key topics discussed during the workshop include injury prevention, emergency communication plans, floodwater hazards, vector-borne diseases, and evacuation procedures. Participants created their own personal emergency kits and communication plans. No specific laws or regulations impacted the implementation of this activity. 

Results

Upon completion of this initiative, 30 Spanish-speaking female migrant workers reported increased knowledge related to the health hazards associated with coastal flooding and hurricanes. All 30 participants were equipped with personal emergency kits and completed their personal emergency communication plans. These migrant workers reported increased safety and trust in the local emergency response. Additionally, four different crab-processing employers were given employer toolkits with information related to evacuation routes, communication plans, and local emergency response partners. More Dorchester County residents are better prepared to weather any storms that threaten the coastline during the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Communication channels between this vulnerable population and emergency response partners were strengthened. In the long-term, this initiative may prevent lives lost and severe health outcomes caused by subsequent coastal flooding events.  

Lessons Learned

The health department’s relationship with the migrant worker community was strengthened through the COVID-19 pandemic response to include hosting vaccine clinics in subsequent years and providing increased prenatal care access through disparities grants. These activities were spearheaded by our team of Spanish-speaking community health workers who maintain close relationships and communication as workers return to the area in the warmer seasons. Maintaining those close relationships with the workers and framing activities as emergency preparedness activities rather than climate activities was crucial to the success of this initiative. If activities were to be replicated, early communication with employers ahead of the picking season would be recommended to secure more employer buy-in.