Appalachians Are Trapped in a Disastrous Cycle of Flooding and Rebuilding
4 weeks ago

Appalachians Are Trapped in a Disastrous Cycle of Flooding and Rebuilding

Wired  

THIS ARTICLE IS republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Over the course of a few days, residents in eastern Kentucky watched as river levels rose and surpassed flood levels. An even greater scale of destruction hit eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina in September 2024, when Hurricane Helene’s rainfall and flooding decimated towns and washed out parts of major highways. As short-term cleanup leads to long-term recovery efforts, residents can face daunting barriers that leave many facing the same flood risks over and over again. In Perry County, Kentucky, where one of eastern Kentucky’s larger cities, Hazard, is located, nearly 30 percent of the population lives under the federal poverty line.

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History of this topic

At least 1 dead as storm batters eastern US with life-threatening flooding, prompting evacuations in Kentucky and Virginia
1 month, 2 weeks ago

At least 1 dead as storm batters eastern US with life-threatening flooding, prompting evacuations in Kentucky and Virginia

CNN  

CNN — At least one person is dead as a powerful storm batters the eastern half of the US with dangerous flooding, prompting hurried evacuations, widespread road closures and hazardous travel conditions in several states. At least 413,000 people in Virginia were under a flood threat that could cause “considerable damage.” Several tornado warnings were issued in Mississippi, West Tennessee …

In East Kentucky, timely weather forecasts are a matter of life and death
1 year, 11 months ago

In East Kentucky, timely weather forecasts are a matter of life and death

Salon  

Terry Thies wasn't worried about the rain that pounded on her roof last July. Imprecise weather forecasting and spotty emergency alerts due to limited cellular and internet access in rural Kentucky meant that Thies and many others were wholly unprepared for the historic flood. No, we didn't," said Pete Gogerian, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service station in Jackson, …

More storms bring renewed flood threat in hard-hit Kentucky
2 years, 7 months ago

More storms bring renewed flood threat in hard-hit Kentucky

Associated Press  

Thunderstorms on Friday brought a renewed threat of flooding to parts of Kentucky ravaged by high water a week ago. As residents continued cleaning up from the late July floods that killed at least 37 people, rain started falling on already saturated ground in eastern Kentucky late Friday morning. Some places could receive up to 3 inches of rain by …

More rain, more bodies in flooded Kentucky mountain towns
2 years, 7 months ago

More rain, more bodies in flooded Kentucky mountain towns

Associated Press  

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Another round of rainstorms hit flooded Kentucky mountain communities Monday as more bodies emerged from the sodden landscape, and the governor warned that high winds could bring another threat — falling trees and utility poles. Andy Beshear said the death toll rose to 37 while hundreds of people remained unaccounted for five days after one of the …

Some Appalachia residents begin cleanup after deadly floods
2 years, 7 months ago

Some Appalachia residents begin cleanup after deadly floods

Associated Press  

PRESTONBURG, Ky. — Some residents of Appalachia returned to flood-ravaged homes and communities on Saturday to shovel mud and debris and to salvage what they could, while Kentucky’s governor said search and rescue operations were ongoing in the region swamped by torrential rains days earlier that led to deadly flash flooding. “We’re just hoping we can get some help,” said …

Appalachian flooding deaths set to climb; more rain forecast
2 years, 8 months ago

Appalachian flooding deaths set to climb; more rain forecast

Associated Press  

JACKSON, Ky. — Trapped homeowners swam to safety and others were rescued by boat as record flash flooding killed at least 16 people in Kentucky and swamped entire Appalachian towns, prompting a frenzied search for survivors Friday through some of the poorest communities in America. Beshear said Friday that at least six children were among the victims and that the …

Appalachian Floods Kill At Least 16 With More Rain On The Horizon
2 years, 8 months ago

Appalachian Floods Kill At Least 16 With More Rain On The Horizon

Huff Post  

Home and structures are flooded near Quicksand, Kentucky, on July 28. Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP JACKSON, Ky. — Trapped homeowners swam to safety and others were rescued by boat as record flash flooding killed at least 16 people in Kentucky and swamped entire Appalachian towns, prompting a frenzied search for survivors Friday through some of the poorest communities …

Kentucky flooding deaths expected to climb, with more rain forecast
2 years, 8 months ago

Kentucky flooding deaths expected to climb, with more rain forecast

LA Times  

Trapped homeowners swam to safety and others were rescued by boat as record flash flooding killed at least 16 people in Kentucky and swamped entire Appalachian towns, prompting a frenzied search for survivors Friday through some of the poorest communities in America. “This is what climate change looks like,” meteorologist and Weather Underground founder Jeff Masters said of the Appalachian …

Flooding in central Appalachia kills at least 8 in Kentucky
2 years, 8 months ago

Flooding in central Appalachia kills at least 8 in Kentucky

Associated Press  

JACKSON, Ky. — Torrential rains unleashed devastating floods in Appalachia on Thursday, as fast-rising water killed at least eight people in Kentucky and sent people scurrying to rooftops to be rescued. “We will.” Flash flooding and mudslides were reported across the mountainous region of eastern Kentucky, western Virginia and southern West Virginia, where thunderstorms dumped several inches of rain over …

Heavy rains cause flooding, power outages in Appalachia
2 years, 8 months ago

Heavy rains cause flooding, power outages in Appalachia

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rescue workers plucked people …

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