Although it’s a club nobody wants to join, an increasing number of individuals in the US impacted by extreme weather disasters are starting to band together and become a political force.
With severe wildfires, floods, storms, and other disasters affecting countless Americans-estimated to be about half of the population-the climate crisis is intensifying these events. Some survivors are now coming together to advocate for better disaster responses and even address the divisive topic of global warming.
“The group has grown, sadly, quite rapidly,” said Sierra Kos, a filmmaker who co-founded Extreme Weather Survivors after being engulfed in toxic smoke from wildfires in rural Oregon in 2020 while trying to get her son medical attention.
“I am positive though that survivors of extreme weather will not just shape political outcomes and policies moving forward but also look to run for office,” Kos stated. “This is going to be a constituency that policymakers and politicians need to listen to.”
A charred vehicle in the parking lot of the burned Oak Park motel after the Santiam fire in Gates, Oregon, in September 2020. Photograph: Kathryn Elsesser/AFP/Getty Images
The shock caused by extreme weather helps connect people across party lines, Kos explained. Politically diverse groups of survivors have made several trips to urge lawmakers in Washington.
Survivors largely agree that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) needs to be more responsive while ensuring disaster aid remains non-political, Kos noted. Donald Trump implemented significant cuts to Fema, emphasizing that states should handle their own disaster relief efforts and faced criticism for allegedly withholding resources from states that didn’t support him.
“I think you’d be hard pressed to find a group of people that are more united on the core issues,” Kos remarked about her organization’s network of around 2,500 survivors across the US.
However, a recent gathering of survivors in Texas indicates that politicians may not yet feel strong pressure from those impacted by extreme weather.
At a community hall in Kerrville-close to where flash floods resulted in 136 deaths back in 2025-all Texas gubernatorial and Senate candidates were invited but only one candidate attended: Vikki Goodwin, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
Texas state representative Vikki Goodwin speaks with reporters in Kerrville. Photograph: Brenda Bazán/The Guardian
“We are seeing more extreme weather in Texas and we need to do more for survivors,” Goodwin told attendees.
Some speakers at the event expressed surprise at finding themselves advocating for change. “I just didn’t care about politics. I never thought I’d be doing this,” said Kylie Nidever, a former preschool teacher whose childhood home was one of few unaffected by flooding in Hunt, Texas.
“It radicalized me to see my community devastated; there was some survivor’s guilt too. That’s how I initially dealt with it,” said Nidever who has spoken with Texas lawmakers about Fema’s inadequate response during another flood this year which was less deadly than before but still concerning.
“We need more authority; we need more guidance; we need more support,” she emphasized. “Seeing nothing happen again after this second flood has motivated me further. I knew it would flood again; I just didn’t expect it so soon.”
Georgia Bishop lost her best friend Felicity Jarmon during the floods of 2025 and still finds it tough discussing what happened as it caused significant damage to her home too. But at just 19 years old, she’s gotten involved with Extreme Weather Survivors events and traveled to Washington last June urging Congress members for improved flood warnings like sirens for communities like hers.
Flood survivor Georgia Bishop. Photograph: Brenda Bazan/The Guardian
She reported mixed reactions from lawmakers; some seemed uninterested while others promised action. “My only concern is if you say you’re working on it-will it be done before something happens again?” Bishop questioned.
“I just want help making sure this doesn’t happen again because I don’t want anyone else going through this.”
Groups comprised of survivors often share frustrations over navigating complicated processes when dealing with insurance companies, Fema, and various government agencies needed for rebuilding lives after disasters strike.
Several participants at the Texas meeting mentioned they’ll soon face eviction from temporary housing without any financial assistance from Fema or other entities available yet for making their homes livable again. Other survivors have been denied Fema aid multiple times under both current and previous administrations.
“Fema is terrible; they’re awful-they’re so inefficient that many give up entirely because it’s not worth all the stress,” voiced Elisabeth Anderson whose Atlanta home suffered damages from Hurricane Helene back in 2025.
After numerous application rejections, Anderson had no choice but took out a loan covering $400,000 needed repairs following flooding that forced her family-including two dogs-to escape onto their car roof as waters rose rapidly nearby.“It felt unreal-like something outta movie,” she recalled.” At one point I genuinely thought we’d die.”
Many survivors express discontent regarding lackluster preparation or response strategies towards major disasters overall says Kos.“There’s this feeling among us like ‘we’re Americans-we should receive timely evacuation alerts.’ The fact funding got cut infuriates people,” she added. p>A destroyed motor home sits on the riverbank in Louise Hays Park next to the Guadalupe River in Kerrville in July 2025 after flooding. Photograph: Jim Vondruska/Getty ImagesThese shared struggles unite individuals affected across America despite existing political divides-with greater recognition emerging regarding how climate change influences these disasters even among previously skeptical individuals. Scientists affirm global warming likely exacerbated floods recently observed throughout Texas along with heatwaves/wildfires now becoming common sights. p >
<”I once believed global warming was merely propaganda until experiencing firsthand being trapped during a flood where death felt imminent,” remarked Mike Malcolm-a Republican voter aged seventy living within Leander , Texas-who wrote his social security number on hands & feet fearing identification might become necessary as muddy waters flooded his residence backin twenty twenty-five. u >satsfaction
