The Invisible Disaster: How an unprecedented harmful algal bloom disrupted the U.S. West Coast

Great news! The Our Earth, Our Home seminar series is back…this time virtually. Join us for the first of two autumn sessions. You can register here .There you will also have the opportunity to register for the second session: “USGS volcanoes: Glacier Peak and Mt. Rainier”, taking place on November 5th.

You will need to have a Zoom account to join these meetings. New to Zoom? You can sign up for free here.`

SUMMARY: In 2015, a perfect storm of oceanic conditions created a massive harmful algal bloom, resulting in the largest ever recorded outbreak of the toxin domoic acid. Subsequent fisheries closures sent shockwaves through local economies and upended long-held social traditions. So, how did these communities cope with this slow-burning disaster with no anticipated end date, and what lessons might they have for enduring other types of disasters?

Join Jerilyn Ritzman, the Shore Stewards Coordinator for WSU Extension Island County, as she recounts the hardships and resilience among 36 interviewed community members in Crescent City, CA and Long Beach, WA.