On July 28, 2022, Appalachian Eastern Kentucky, Southwestern Virginia, and surrounding areas experienced historic flooding. As most of us know from dealing with flooding here in North Carolina they are facing a long road ahead dealing with the aftermath of the intrusive and destructive power of flooding.

NCMC has reached out to our Kentucky sibling organization, the Kentucky Museum and Heritage Alliance who directed us to Scott Avery, Executive Director of the Kentucky Historical Society. Scott is helping lead the efforts to save the cultural sites of the area and replied with this update.

“We had staff in the region this past weekend and conditions are horrible. Our team of volunteers, and most that are coming from outside the region, are having to drive in and out on the same day due to the lack of housing, electricity and water. The folks in eastern Kentucky are used to flooding but this is completely different. The road to recovery will take some time.”

Scott also mentioned two organizations, Appalshop and the Hindman Settlement School, have gotten hit particularly hard by the flooding. They have information, a needs list, and volunteer sign-up on their websites https://appalshop.org and https://hindman.org. Additionally, if anyone would like to donate to the general relief and recovery fund for the Kentucky flooding, Scott mentioned this site specifically: https://secure.kentucky.gov/FormServices/Finance/EKYFloodRelief.

If anyone would like to donate to the recovery of Kentucky and the cultural sites and museums affected by this historic flooding, please consider doing so. Even if you cannot commit to a financial contribution, consider sending notes of encouragement or reviewing the needs list for these organizations.