The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team was among those lending a hand to flood recovery efforts in eastern Kentucky this week. On Tuesday the team, coaches and others made the trip from Richmond to Hazard to help unload, sort and distribute donated items to those who lost possessions in the flooding.
Team manager Bryce Watts is a Knott County native and graduated from Hazard High School. He said when Eastern Head Coach A.W. Hamilton found out Watts was from the area, the coach was there to support him.
“He was talking to me every day about what we were gonna do and once he found out we’re gonna go, we got the ok from Eastern, he loaded up. I think we brought over a hundred t-shirts, we brought like 40 or 50 towels. We brought bags, we brought cleaning supplies, we brought water, we brought everything,” said Watts.
Watts said even though they were there nearly two weeks after the flooding, there were still around 200 people at the donation center on Tuesday.
“There was a lot of people, they're getting stuff they needed. And it's still, there's a line outside of the building. And this is still on day 12. So like, it's just, it's crazy to see that many people still needing help,” said Watts.
The team lent a hand with donations for around three hours before Hazard Mayor Happy Mobelini took them on a tour of the flood zone. Watts said many of the sights he once knew are now completely gone. Watts said although he lost a trailer he rented out and will take a financial hit, its nothing compared to the devastation and loss of life others in the community face.
