People leading recovery efforts in eastern Kentucky say last weekend’s round of flooding was much more widespread than the severe floods of 2022.
Flooding has been reported from as far east as Pike County to the more centrally southern communities like Knox County.
Emergency responders have been working nonstop in the meantime.
Billy Mills is the chief of the Richland Fire Department in Knox County. His team has rescued eight people since Saturday.
“We've been, pretty much from about 11:30 Saturday morning when our first call came in, until about – we actually got a call about 6:00 yesterday evening – pretty much we've been on the run the whole time," Mills said.
Mills says flash flooding in his area has stopped and that the nearby Cumberland River has begun to recede. He says it was around 38 feet deep during the flood’s peak.
“Yesterday, it was trees taking down power lines, and we were helping open roads up to get into the areas where people live, to get their power lines and hopefully electric restored,” Mills said.
Others leading recovery efforts say while the flooding wasn’t as unpredictable as three years ago, it’s hit certain population centers like Hazard harder.
Kristin Walker Collins is the CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, which is headquartered in Hazard. She says recovery efforts have been more manageable.
“As the water has been flowing, it has hit communities as it travels. So we're seeing a lot of things that are predictable, which is a change of pace from the ‘22 flood, which was much more holler and creek flash flooding,” Collins said.
Collins says the knowledge from the ‘22 floods has helped the recovery effort. She says the housing nonprofits she’s working with have been on the front lines of short-term recovery.
“They get paid when they sell houses, when they build a house and then sell it. What they don't get paid to do is muck out houses. And so giving support to those organizations as they are doing the muck-out and clean-up for homes is important," Collins said.
Collins says cleanup material like shovels and squeegees are among the biggest needs as groups work to get people sheltered.
The foundation is putting together a list of resources for those interested in volunteering or donating, available here. Direct donations can be made here. Physical checks can also be sent to 420 Main Street in Hazard, Kentucky, 41701.
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