Flooding can be a nightmare for residents. It can cause warped floors, muddy carpets, and mold.

“Whenever it rains, people talk about this sort of fear that happens,” says Harriet Festing, director of the Anthropocene Alliance, a national coalition of community groups that are experiencing extreme weather and advocating for solutions.

She says many members know the anguish of evacuating from their homes. They’ve felt the stress of cleaning up after a disaster, and the frustration of struggling to get help.

So through the Alliance’s virtual meetings, they offer one another support and trade advocacy strategies.

The organization itself helps amplify their voices by connecting them to media outlets. And it pairs some with pro-bono experts such as lawyers, fundraisers, or hydrologists who can identify flooding risks and solutions.  

“So, for example, some of our groups are involved in holding events, public outreach,” Festing says. “They’re involved in citizen science. They are involved in lawsuits, in planning appeals, in introducing legislation and ballot initiatives.”

Their projects differ. But together, members form a chorus of voices calling for climate solutions.

Reporting credit: Stephanie Manuzak/ChavoBart Digital Media