Extreme Weather Survivors Unite Impacted Communities Nationwide Through “Stolen Summers” Campaign Ahead of Midterm Elections
Through 50 events across 20 states, the campaign brought together thousands for concerts, survivor storytelling, voter registration, and community conversations calling for elected leaders to show up and prioritize survivors’ needs
Ahead of the midterm elections, Extreme Weather Survivors (EWS) has concluded its nationwide Stolen Summers voter engagement tour, bringing communities impacted by extreme weather together to ensure their experiences and recovery needs remain on the agenda after the headlines fade. Combining marquee events in North Carolina, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., with intimate survivor-led gatherings focused on building community, the campaign featured 50 events across 20 states.
Through music, theatrical performances, and conversations about the realities of rebuilding, Stolen Summers created spaces for survivors to share what their communities have lost, connect with neighbors facing similar challenges, and call for sustained action from elected leaders. Hundreds of EWS survivor leaders created their own events to support and honor the communities they love. As voters prepare to head to the polls, the Stolen Summers campaign underscored a shared demand: communities living with the consequences of extreme weather need support that lasts well beyond the initial emergency — and our government is not meeting the moment.
Extreme weather survivors are one of the fastest growing populations in the US today and we need elected officials who are listening to, investing in, and drafting policy that reflects this growing financial and traumatic burden that so many Americans are carrying.
“At a time where so many put emphasis on how divided our country is, what we know is that extreme weather survivors are uniquely aligned across party lines — wanting their elected officials to invest in better weather forecasting and evacuation notices, more accountability for industries and elected officials who are not listening to the growing population of Americans harmed by this stuff, and who aren't doing anything about the financial burden and crisis of recovery, including constantly rising utility and insurance costs,” said Sierra Lindsey Kos, co-founder and co-executive director of Extreme Weather Survivors. “Stolen Summers brought those experiences into the open and gave survivors more ways to organize around what their communities need. Our message to elected leaders is clear: listen to the people living through extreme weather, and make sure they have the resources to recover.”
The fall campaign built on EWS’ earlier Stolen Summers programming, including its first-ever national survivor summit in Washington, D.C., which brought together more than 75 survivors from across the country. National polling released by EWS this summer found that 71% of Americans reported personally experiencing at least one extreme-weather impact in the previous three years, while 64% agreed that people affected by disasters are often left to fend for themselves after the initial emergency passes. That must change.
Across the campaign, survivors called attention to a recovery process that can take years and place enormous financial and emotional strain on families. EWS is urging elected leaders and candidates to listen to these experiences and prioritize the resources and policies communities need before, during, and long after disaster strikes.
See the full list of programming – and full impact – of EWS’ Stolen Summers Tour here:
June 24 - Washington, D.C. - National survivor-led installation and community event
August 21 - St. Louis, Missouri - “Red Brick Blue Tarp” film screening and panel discussion
September 17 - New York, New York - EWS billboard in Times Square
September 25 - Burnsville, North Carolina - Community Concert on Hurricane Helene recovery
September 29 - Tucson, Arizona - Assembly for day laborers on preventing heat-related illness and extreme heat safety
October 2 - Brevard, North Carolina - Harvest Celebration and community gathering for families impacted by Hurricane Helene
October 8 - Kerrville, Texas - Roundtable discussion on extreme flooding featuring State Rep. Vicki Goodwin
October 10 - Chadron, Nebraska - Breakfast meeting to discuss surviving fires and drought and organize support for future climate events
October 10 - Jeremiah, Kentucky - Distribution of flood recovery take-home bags for individuals affected by floods and wind storms
October 11 - Tujunga, California - Informal show-and-tell on fire suppression equipment for Los Angeles fire survivors
October 12 - Missoula, Montana - Seminar advancing community resilience and preparedness for extreme weather events
October 13 - La Cañada, California - Monthly gathering offering support, resources, and healing activities for Eaton Fire survivors
October 15 - Beulah, Colorado - Community conversation with resources and tips from Marshall Fire survivors to survivors of the Aspen Acre Fires
October 16 - Boone, North Carolina - Parents-night-out event to support families and community recovery following Hurricane Helene
October 18 - Asheville, North Carolina - Art therapy and clay workshop for survivors of hurricanes and extreme heat
October 18 - Hauula, Hawaii - Disaster preparation drive providing emergency supplies and kits for families impacted by extreme weather in the region
October 18 - Ingram, Texas - Healing and preparedness gathering with emergency kits for survivors of the Texas floods
October 20 - Altadena, California - CPR and first aid training for Eaton Fire survivors
October 21 - St. James City, Florida - Community concert for survivors of Hurricane Ian
October 22 - Los Angeles, California - Survivor-led theatrical storytelling event in Los Angeles honoring survivors of the 2025 fires
October 23 - 25 - Window Rock, Arizona - Two-day film shoot with members of the Navajo Nation on their experience with extreme heat, flooding, and their methods of resilience
October 23 - Montpelier, Vermont - Community gathering at a former flood buyout site to discuss park plans to rebuild after flooding in the region in 2023
October 24 - Altadena, California - Community gathering and postcard-writing event for Eaton Fire survivors advocating for recovery legislation and to help process grief
October 24 - Durham, North Carolina - Community gathering distributing extreme heat resilience toolkits and providing heat-safety information
October 24 - Pacific Palisades, California - Fitness, recovery, and reconnection gathering for Palisades Fire survivors
October 24 - Phoenix, Arizona - Discussion and resource distribution for pregnant families on the impacts of extreme heat
October 24 - Spokane Valley, Washington - Meeting for survivors of the 2023 Oregon/Gray fires and 2026 Complex fires to share recovery experiences
October 25 - Bluefield, West Virginia - Backyard photobook launch
October 25 - Altadena, California - Community sound bath for Eaton Fire survivors to relax and process trauma
October 25 - Clyde, North Carolina - Talking circle for Hurricane Helene survivors to share their stories two years after the disaster
October 25 - Gary, Indiana - Giveaway of essential items and resources for families affected by a recent storm and power outage
October 25 - Los Angeles, California - Support program teaching emotional regulation to children affected by the Palisades Fire
October 25 - Salem, Oregon - Art and dance exhibit giving a voice to local survivors of fire and extreme heat
October 25 - San Diego, California - Community events supporting San Diego flood survivors through art healing, workshops, and resource distribution
October 26 - Gary, Indiana - Trusted messenger, Ash Lane (ANF Chicago), in Gary, Indiana, interviewed five community members on their experience with the 2026 blackouts
October 29 - Whitesburg, Kentucky - Trunk or Treat: Resource fair and bag packing with disaster preparedness supplies
October 29 - Houston, Texas - Resource distribution and community assistance event for Texas flood survivors
October 30 - Hauula, Hawaii - Community concert and resource fair with sign-ups for Kim's HI Risk Management site
October 31 - Altadena, California - Halloween Block Party helping Eaton Fire survivors and families reconnect
October 31 - Phoenix, Arizona - Community storytelling event sharing experiences with extreme heat
October 31 - Weaverville, North Carolina - Creative arts group therapy for survivors of hurricanes and extreme heat
November 1 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Postcard writing party
November 1 - Altadena, California - Community event featuring music, workshops, and connecting for Eaton fire survivors
November 1 - Houston, Texas - Dia De Los Muertos cookout honoring loved ones and supporting survivors of Texas floods and hurricanes
November 1 - Woodstock, Georgia - Postcard writing party
November 1 - Asheville, North Carolina - Event focused on Hurricane Helene
November 2 - Southport, North Carolina - Support group discussing extreme weather and rising insurance costs following hurricanes and extreme heat
November 4 - Las Vegas, Nevada - Postcard writing party at a Project Homeless Connect event for extreme heat survivors to share their stories
November 14 - Bokeelia, Florida - Volunteer cleanup work party restoring natural habitats impacted by recent hurricanes
Ongoing - Barre, Vermont - Grant for Heart of Barre books to be shipped to communities that have experienced floods
