US extreme weather survivors form political group

A gathering of extreme weather survivors took place in Kerrville, Texas, on 21 October 2026. The meeting was held in a community hall near the site of the 2025 flash floods that killed 136 people. The attendees included survivors of wildfires, floods and storms across the United States.

The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. According to a Guardian report, about half of all U.S. residents have been affected by such events. The survivors attribute the rise in disasters to global warming.

Survivors are demanding a more responsive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and that disaster aid should not be politicized. They also seek action on the politically contentious issue of global heating. The group has grown to around 2,500 members and includes people from across the political spectrum.

Politicians have not yet responded strongly to the survivors’ concerns. At the Kerrville meeting, only one candidate, Vikki Goodwin, a Democratic lieutenant‑governor candidate, spoke to the group. The survivors expressed surprise at being thrust into advocacy roles.

The group’s founder, Sierra Kos, said the survivors will not only shape policy but may also run for office. She described the survivors as a constituency that policymakers need to listen to. The organization plans to continue engaging lawmakers in Washington.