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Photo: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear updates the press on the flooding in Kentucky on July 28, 2022. Photo: Office of the Governor of Kentucky/Flickr

Hey y’all,

As you are no doubt aware by now, much of eastern Kentucky has been devastated by catastrophic flooding. As of this writing, 28 people are dead and thousands more otherwise affected, including having lost their homes as the deluge swept it down the hollow. President Joe Biden has declared the region a federal disaster area, but the cleanup can’t begin until the water recedes. Eastern Kentuckians face a long and difficult road to recovery.

Our neighbors need our help. 

I grew up between Dayton, Ohio, and Hyden, Kentucky. I graduated from Leslie County High School. Eastern Kentucky is my home. The people who live there are my friends and family. Though I have not lived there in nearly 20 years, the counties of Leslie and Perry still hold a special place in my heart.

There will be time for us to analyze the science and politics of this in the future. Certainly, there is a conversation to be had about the role climate change plays in Appalachian flooding. We need to discuss things like flood infrastructure and the overall poverty of the region, which makes preparing for and rebounding from such disasters so much more difficult. We need to look at public policies which can help the region not just recover from this flood but prevent the next one.

As I said, though, that is for another time. For now,  I just want to focus on ways to help our friends and neighbors in Eastern Kentucky. They are in serious need right now, so our first priority must be meeting those needs in any way we can. Luckily, groups are already stepping forward to do just that.

 
  • The Commonwealth of Kentucky has set up the “Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund” so that you can donate to the relief efforts. These donations are tax deductible, and you can contribute either online or by mailing a donation. Visit this link for more information or to contribute.
     

  • The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is accepting donations of goods. As of this writing, it looks like the collection site is in Frankfort, the state capital and west of the flooding, but there may be more localized donation sites in the coming days so you might want to keep an eye on the website.
     

  • Appalachian Regional Healthcare is accepting donations. “Our residents are in desperate need of generators, transportation, food, water, and access to health care and medicine,” they say on their website. Click here to donate.
     

  • The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky has established an Appalachian Crisis Aid fund, which you can donate to by clicking here.
     

  • The EKY Mutual Aid group has already raised $15,000 for flood relief efforts. They are also a hub for information on groups and organizations that need volunteers. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
     

  • Appalachians for Appalachia created this handy spreadsheet of groups raising money as well as places you can seek shelter or donate items instead of money.
     

  • CNN has partnered with Public Good, a website which helps corporations raise money for charitable causes, to create the “Help Kentucky Flood Victims” fund. Donations will be split between the American Red Cross and Save the Children. I don’t see any guarantee those charities will use this money to help Kentuckians, though. If you’re interested in more information or wish to donate, though, click here.
     

  • You can also donate directly to the American Red Cross’s flood relief efforts by clicking here.
     

  • WLKY, the local CBS affiliate in Louisville, also created a list of places to donate. What makes this list exceptional is that it has collated verified GoFundMe campaigns where you can donate to specific individuals, families, and communities.  If you want to localize your donation or be sure it’s going to an individual or family in need, this might be a good bet for you.
     

  • The Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center is “a nonprofit law center that fights for justice in the Central Appalachian coalfields by representing citizens and communities adversely affected by extractive fossil fuel industries and practices,” according to their website. Unfortunately their office was badly damaged in the flooding. They are fundraising to help rebuild. Click here to contribute.
     

  • Aspire Appalachia is raising money to help with pets and people impacted by the flooding. Click here to donate now.
     

  • The Christian Appalachian Project is accepting donations for flood relief. Partnered with AmeriCorps, they report that 89 percent of donations go directly to families in need. That’s a very impressive amount. You can donate here.
     

I am extremely proud to be from eastern Kentucky. The people back home are good and decent people, and they need our help. If you can contribute even a little bit, please do. It is going to take a lot of money and a very long time to rebuild what was lost, and every penny helps. 

To the people back home who are reading this, I love you. You are in my thoughts and prayers, and I am heartbroken by what I am seeing, but I am inspired by the resiliency and community I have seen over the past several days. The floods might wash away our homes, but it will not wash away our resolve, our faith, or our determination to rebuild better than we had before. 

We are Kentuckians. We are Appalachians. No flood can sweep us out of these mountains, because these mountains belong to us.

Sincerely,

Skylar

Appalachian News Roundup:
Fascinating stories from across our region

  • For The Independent, I wrote about the ghoulish responses I’ve seen from some trolls blaming the people of Eastern Kentucky for the flooding. Apparently because we are represented by Republicans in Congress, we deserve to be washed off the face of the earth. As you can imagine, I disagree with that. You can read my column here.
     

  • “What about my life?” It’s a powerful question made more powerful by the fact that Addison Gardner is only 12 and was testifying before the West Virginia Legislature before they passed a law banning abortion except in the case of rape or incest, and then only if the crime is reported to the police and the pregnancy terminated before 14 weeks. That law is infuriating, but Addison’s remarks are inspiring – and offer hope for the future. The Independent has a video of her inspiring speech on its website.
     

  • The Johnson City Press reports on rising COVID infections in the northeastern region of Tennessee. Stay safe out there, y’all!
     

  • Aaron D. Purcell spoke to the Roanoke Star about the Appalachian families displaced in the 20th century when federal projects such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, used eminent domain to uproot and move families. These families and their stories of displacement are the subject of his new book, “Lost in Transition.”
     

  • Duncan Slade of Mountain State Spotlight, co-publishing with Black By God – The West Virginian, reports on the stark disparity in school suspension rates between Black and white students in West Virginia. 
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