Poder Latinx Mourns Lives Lost in Texas Floods, Calls for Urgent Climate and Emergency Response Action
NATIONAL — Poder Latinx extends its deepest condolences to the families and communities devastated by the catastrophic flash floods that struck Texas over the Fourth of July weekend. We stand in solidarity with the loved ones of the more than 90 lives lost—many of them children—and we uplift the tireless efforts of first responders, volunteers, and search teams working around the clock to locate those still missing.
This tragedy is a painful and urgent reminder of the deadly consequences of climate-fueled disasters and the cost of systemic underinvestment in emergency infrastructure. What happened in Texas was not just a natural disaster, as it exposed deep and persistent vulnerabilities in our infrastructure, early warning systems, and the lack of consistent political will to invest in climate resilience before tragedy strikes.
“Our hearts break for the families who’ve lost their loved ones in Texas Hill County and beyond, who are grieving unimaginable losses,” said Yadira Sánchez, Executive Director of Poder Latinx. “These moments of heartbreak remind us of how fragile life can be and how vulnerable our communities are in the face of worsening climate disasters. As we mourn with those impacted, we must also recognize that grief alone is not enough. The floods, heatwaves, and wildfires we’re witnessing aren’t isolated tragedies—they are interconnected alarms sounding across the country. Each one is a symptom of a growing climate crisis that our leaders can no longer afford to ignore.”
Poder Latinx calls on:
Federal and state lawmakers to strengthen funding for early warning systems, floodplain mapping, and rapid emergency response.
Agencies to prioritize climate adaptation programs and enforce stronger safeguards in flood-prone and under-resourced zones.
Congress to protect and expand clean energy investments, disaster relief programs, and climate-smart infrastructure in all budget decisions.
“We owe it to the victims and survivors to ensure this never happens again,” Sánchez added. “This must be a turning point where we choose prevention over politics, equity over inaction, and safety over delay.”
Poder Latinx will continue fighting for environmental justice through advocacy in statehouses and in Congress, but also through civic education, organizing, and the power of the vote. With local elections this year and the 2026 midterms on the horizon, we will mobilize our communities to demand leaders who take climate justice seriously and act before the next disaster strikes.
Our thoughts remain with every family in mourning. The path to healing must include justice, preparedness, and the political courage to protect the future of all our communities.
###