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Friday, September 02, 2022

Flood roundup: Eastern Kentuckians still dealing with the devastation of recent flooding as school year begins

Angela Cornett has been living in a tent next to her home, which is uninhabitable after the floods. She can't find a place to live nearby, and said she will probably have to go to another county. (Lexington Herald-Leader photo by Ryan C. Hermens)

More than a month after the flash flooding that devastated parts of Eastern Kentucky, residents are still dealing with the fallout. Here's some of the latest:

A Courier Journal story chronicles the struggle one teenager and his grandmother face as they still work to get the mud out of their home and their church. Though the teen said he worries about another flood, he sees them as just a fact of life. "This is what you do in Kentucky – pick up after floods," he told Matt Stone.

Two stories, one from The Daily Yonder and one from The New York Times, look at how schools in Eastern Kentucky are trying to carry on with damaged or destroyed buildings and buses, washed-out roads, poor or no internet, and many families still homeless.

In another CJ story, Christians in Eastern Kentucky talk about how they're leaning on their faith as they continue cleaning and salvaging what they can from damaged churches and homes. Read it here.

A month after the flooding, many residents are still living in tents, sheds, or even their cars. Some are trying to repair their homes, and others are trying to find another permanent residence. But the housing market in Eastern Kentucky was tight even before the flood; now, many people say they may have to leave their beloved communities and live elsewhere. One county leader told the Lexington Herald-Leader that, without public or private relief funding, the county will lose residents. Read more here.

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