Dear Supporter,

Earlier this month, devastating floods¹ impacted thousands of people in Yellowstone National Park gateway communities in southwest Montana, and severely impacted the Park and Park staff as well. Floodwaters drove river levels two-and-a-half feet higher than ever recorded–inundating homes, destroying roads and bridges, and isolating entire towns.

Communities that were heavily affected and Yellowstone Park are hard at work recovering and rebuilding after this 1000-year flood event, but they need our help. Local organizations are calling for assistance to meet community needs, including emergency shelter, drinking water, food and clothing for those most impacted, along with larger clean-up and community rebuilding efforts. Many people and businesses in Gardiner, Red Lodge and other affected communities also rely heavily on tourism for their livelihoods. They will be impacted for months to come as things continue to shift with road and bridge rebuilding, tourist access to impacted gateway communities, and restricted public access to parts of Yellowstone.

When disaster strikes, our Sierra Club community has pulled together time and again to help people in need of relief. I'm asking you once more to please help with a donation to partner organizations working on the ground to help affected communities.

You can help by donating to these organizations which are all working to help get people back on their feet after the floods. 100% of your gift will go to help flooding relief and recovery efforts >>

The Southwest Montana Flood Relief Fund is helping those in Park and Madison Counties. The Red Lodge Community Area Foundation has started a special fund for people in Red Lodge and Carbon County affected by the flooding. Please also consider supporting the Park County Environmental Council, which has been working hard to coordinate flood relief efforts and respond to community needs in Park County, including matching up people who want to volunteer with those who need help.

In the midst of this disaster, the Sierra Club pledges to keep working to prevent future climate chaos while also showing up in support of our friends, neighbors and partners feeling the direct impacts of flooding, wildfires and other disasters exacerbated by climate change. Climate change is making extreme weather events, like what we have just seen in Yellowstone, more frequent and more devastating. We must do all we can to address the climate and biodiversity crises and secure the futures of our lands, wildlife, and communities.

Thank you in advance for your support of recovery and relief efforts for Yellowstone gateway communities.

In solidarity,

¹ https://www.hcn.org/articles/yellowstone-area-flooding-upends-lives-and-portends-a-new-climate-reality
Flooding photo credit NPS / Jacob W. Frank
Sandbag photo courtesy Park County Environmental Council