The Health Departments of the Counties of Monterey and Santa Cruz invite the public to review a report of the regional survey conducted in response to the January 2025 battery fire at the Vistra Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility. The survey was developed to better understand the community’s health-related concerns during and after the Moss Landing battery fire and to gather information about how residents received emergency notifications and guidance. While not designed to assess medical outcomes or determine cause and effect, the survey results offer valuable insight into public perceptions, reported symptoms, and communication challenges during the incident.
The results reflect a range of public concerns and will guide improvements in public health messaging and emergency response systems across the region. A summary of the survey responses is publicly available here
A total of 1,539 individuals completed the survey. Approximately two thirds were individuals who lived or worked in Monterey County and a quarter were from Santa Cruz County. The remaining surveys were completed by others who lived or worked outside the two-county area.
Among those who completed the survey, 83% reported experiencing at least one symptom with headache, sore throat and cough being the most common. In addition, the survey asked the community about their concerns. Top public concerns and priorities included:
- Ongoing physical symptoms and potential long-term health effects
- Environmental safety including air, soil, water, and food contamination
- Emergency alert systems, particularly regarding timeliness and clarity of notifications
- Access to clear and consistent public information
Health Officials in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, along with regional partners, are using the survey findings to:
- Understand symptoms or health concerns related to battery fires,
- Improve public notification and outreach practices, and
- Collaborate with emergency service providers to update emergency response plans and strategies.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone that took the time to complete the survey,“ said Dr. Edward Moreno, Public Health Director and Health Officer for the County of Monterey.
The full summary of the community survey, along with related health and safety information, is available at: https://www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/2025-moss-landing-vistra-power-plant-fire/community-survey.
For information related to the battery fire including the community survey, please visit the County of Monterey’s 2025 Moss Landing Vistra Power Plant Fire website at https://www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/2025-moss-landing-vistra-power-plant-fire.
