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Kentucky Floods

Kentucky

What damage did flooding in Kentucky in 2022 cause?

Torrential rainfall in July and August of 2022 caused catastrophic flooding in central Appalachia. In Eastern Kentucky, the floods caused dozens of reported deaths, injuries, and destruction that stranded hundreds of people without their homes.  

 

Many affected areas were laid in rugged terrain that is difficult to access. Search and rescue and relief efforts were complicated further by road damage. As relief was administered and vital needs were assessed, heavy rain continued to cause flooding and additional challenges in the region.  

How did CORE help flood victims in Kentucky? 

CORE responded quickly to provide critical support to low-income and high-risk communities devastated by the flooding in Kentucky.  

 

Our team mobilized to the impact zone to support the most vulnerable communities in Letcher County. We coordinated with local partners to provide debris removal and hygiene kits, Wi-Fi and laptop stations, and identify survivors’ additional critical needs. 

 

In support of long-term recovery efforts, CORE hired and trained a local team of disaster case managers, supporting community livelihoods and infusing over $800,000 in salaries into the local economy. They have worked across four counties to help families apply for state and federal support programs. Our teams supported over 1,000 cases—more than any other organization in the area—and provided people with access to FEMA awards, building materials, furniture, home goods, and even securing new homes.  

55,000

resources distributed

1,000+

cases supported

$5.6 million

in resources secured for post-disaster recovery

Kentucky_KnottAndLetcherCounty_Gross Family at Home

Meet Mr. Bill Gross

Mr. Gross connected with CORE by chance when he walked into the Letcher County office seeking help to fill out a document. At the time, his and his son’s living conditions were deplorable. The disaster case management staff quickly worked to get Mr. Gross and his son into a temporary housing while he applied for FEMA funding for the severe damage. He was later awarded the first new home build in Letcher County, facilitated by CORE. Today Mr. Gross and his son live in a brand new three-bedroom home out of the flood zone. 

“I never dreamed that my son Jason and I would have a home like this with a porch. Kim Miles, the Letcher County CORE supervisor, never stopped working for me and Jason. Kim has been an angel sent to us.”

Bill Gross sits with Kim inside his new home.
Bill, his son, Malva and Kim standing on the porch of Bill's new home

#community #resilience