Pine Island couple attends weather survivors summit in Washington, D.C.
Cindy and Alan Bickford were invited to Washington, D.C., June 29 to attend Extreme Weather Survivors Stolen Summers Summit and Advocacy Day. There were over 70 extreme weather survivors from all over the U.S. who attended the summit.
The first day the group heard many survivor stories and everyone was prepped on how to tell their stories of survival to legislators. Bills about FEMA were before Congress at the time of the summit.
The Bickfords met with the Byron Donald’s staff to share their experiences from Hurricane Ian, dealing with FEMA, insurance, permits and more. They asked that he consider supporting more funding for FEMA and to help with flood insurance to be paid in increments instead of one lump sum.
The second day, they attended an art installation on Capital grounds where stories were told and art was displayed.
The Bickfords shared information about the success of the Beacon of Hope and the Emergency Task Force on Pine Island. They said many members were very interested to hear how the island community is prepared for extreme weather.
Extreme Weather Survivors is a nationwide community of people who have lived through floods, wildfires, hurricanes, extreme heat, storms and other weather disasters. They provide free trauma-informed support and connect survivors with opportunities to share their stories, build community and advocate for solutions to help families recover and rebuild.
Reports indicate that 51% of Americans have experienced four or more extreme weather events. As disasters become more frequent and more expensive, people want leaders to protect homes, lower costs, invest in preparedness and make sure survivors are not left to recover alone. To learn more about his organization, go to extremeweathersurvivors.org
Building on the momentum from the Washington, D.C., gathering, Extreme Weather Survivors is officially launching its free online community to ensure no survivor has to face recovery alone. It’s a space for survivors like the Bickfords to connect with others who understand what recovery really looks like, share resources, what worked in their communities and support each other through the long and often lonely journey of being a survivor.
Save the date for Launch Week, running July 20-24, where survivors across disasters will connect, listen and learn from one another. Expect fun daily events and prizes along the way, so join the community to check them out.
It’s free to join, available in Spanish, and open to anyone touched by extreme weather.
Learn more about Extreme Weather Survivors on the group’s website at https://www.extremeweathersurvivors.org/ or to join the community, visit https://ews.circle.so/join?invitation_token=598290240263f5b5a091205b7906ce363573a77c-f4d0f9f5-d36d-4f9f-