Health officials want to know your experience with the Vistra fire—whether you were impacted or not.

Erik Chalhoub here, having just finished filling out a survey to share my experience with the Jan. 16 fire at the Vistra battery facility in Moss Landing.

About 24 hours after the fire began, I could smell something metallic in the air at my home in Royal Oaks. Beyond adding to my workload (I’ve written a few stories on the fire), the incident didn’t impact me nearly as much as some others have said.

People have reported various health concerns—including difficulties breathing and a metallic taste in their mouth—while Moss Landing businesses have noted declining foot traffic from visitors (Haute Enchilada, for example, shut its doors, at least for now).

A recently released report from the state Department of Toxic Substances Control determined that based on samples taken at various sites, soil and water contamination from the fire does not pose a serious health risk.

But whether you were affected or not, and regardless of whether you live within a few miles from the facility or the next county over, health officials want to know your concerns.

The survey, released by the health departments of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, launched in February and closes Friday, March 14. It takes about five minutes to complete, and gives respondents an opportunity to share what health and environmental concerns they have, while also stating the area where they may have seen or smelled smoke.

It is available in English and Spanish, as well as other languages by phone, and does not gather any identifiable information from the respondents, said Karen Smith of the County of Monterey Health Department.

Smith said during a media briefing today that the survey has received about 1,000 responses so far. Once the survey closes, the data will be compiled and released to the public.

Today, County of Monterey officials also announced the launch of a website that lists the progress of each step in the cleanup of the battery facility.

About 90 percent of the accessible lithium-ion battery racks have been “de-linked,” said Vistra’s Director of Project Development Dave Yeager, describing that process of disconnecting electricity between the batteries to help stabilize them. The cleanup and removal process is expected to take at least a year, he noted.

Kelsey Scanlon, director of the County of Monterey’s Department of Emergency Management, said the website is the result of community feedback seeking details on the cleanup effort.

“It will help encourage transparency that is ultimately expected by the community,” she said.

The more data available, the better off we should be in understanding the scope of this disaster. Make your voice heard.