The Insider Newsletter

Graphic by Emi Okikawa

We're living in turbulent times. Southeast communities are reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, and Florida is already preparing for another massive impact from Hurricane Milton. Fossil fuel CEOs continue to push for more coal, oil, and gas to rake in profits, and we're facing growing threats from extremist plots like Project 2025. At the same time, our movement has made enormous strides in the last few years with critical clean energy wins and major progress on reducing pollution. Now we are at a critical juncture. We hope you'll join us tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT as we gather to make sense of the current moment, talk about what this all means for the climate movement, and chart a path forward together.

Provide direct aid to the communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Hurricane Helene has devastated communities from the Gulf to Appalachia, leaving entire towns displaced, millions of people without power, and hundreds of lives lost. Now, Hurricane Milton is bearing down on Florida and immediate aid will be essential. Sierra Club staff in the regions put together this list of trusted, on-the-ground organizations that need our support. This page will be updated with Milton resources as the situation develops.

Devastation in Asheville. | Photo by Bill McMannis

Last week, Hurricane Helene devastated Southeast communities, and Florida is bracing for another disastrous storm, Hurricane Milton. The science is clear that these are unnatural disasters – climate change is making storms, rainfall, and flooding more likely and more extreme. Yet only 3 percent of national TV news segments about Helene mentioned climate change. To fix a problem, first we need to be clear about what's causing it. Major news outlets must name the connection between extreme weather events and human-caused climate change.

Paid for by Sierra Club Independent Action www.sierraclubindependentaction.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Big Oil has known for decades that burning coal, oil, and gas would lead to more extreme weather like Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This November, we have a choice: Are we going to elect someone who cozies up to Big Oil, promises to open up public lands for drilling, privatize the weather service, and reduce disaster funding? Or will we put Kamala Harris, a proven climate champion, in the Oval Office to protect our families, our communities, and our future?

An American flag sits in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood in St. Petersburg, Florida. | Photo by Mike Carlson/AP

"Hurricanes are a waiting game. Whenever a tropical storm rises from ocean waters, we wait to see if it builds into a hurricane. If it does, we wait to see if it tracks toward Florida, and chances are it will. Florida has 1,350 miles of coastline, more than any other state among the Lower 48."