Eastern Kentucky frequently faces costly flooding disasters
Flood-prone counties in Kentucky often receive federal disaster aid due to repeated and severe flooding, surpassing disaster-prone coastal areas.
Seth Borenstein reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Floyd County, KY has been declared a federal disaster zone 14 times since 2011 due to severe flooding.
- Most frequent federal disasters are in inland counties, not coastal ones, with eight of the nine most disaster-prone counties in Kentucky.
- Federal aid distribution shows a significant need for enhancing resilience in vulnerable inland areas.
Key quote:
“After that flood I had 500 homeless people looking at me, ‘Judge what are we going to do’? It’s overwhelming and it’s just a matter of time before it happens again.”
— Judge Robbie Williams, Floyd County administrator
Why this matters:
Unlike the dramatic hurricanes and storm surges that hit coastal cities and make national headlines, the flooding in Kentucky often goes underreported. However, the impact on local communities is just as devastating. Homes are washed away, businesses shutter, and lives are disrupted as families face the arduous task of rebuilding from scratch time and time again.
