BCN’s Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief

The night of July 27th saw sudden and catastrophic flooding throughout much of our service area in Eastern Kentucky. As flood waters began to rise, the immediate threat was felt by our 250 team members and nearly 500 patients in this area. By morning, homes were washed away and roads had crumbled with the ground underneath them. Whole towns were swallowed by flood waters, and thousands of individuals lost everything. The homes of more than 20 BCN team members were damaged or destroyed. Many of our nearly 500 patients in Eastern Kentucky encountered the same – while also dealing with serious illness.

We are so proud of all our BCN Heroes who were selfless and creative in their dedication to providing the expert care our patients needed. Our Eastern Kentucky team sprang into action to ensure that the medications and expert care we provide the seriously ill in these communities was not disrupted – wading through muck to visit patients and delivering necessary medical care via kayaks and ATVs when roads were not traversable.

One team member rushed to pump water out of our pharmacy as it was flooding overnight. Others immediately began calling on patients to ensure their safety and assess their needs. Our Durable Medical Equipment (DME) team even helped the Red Cross deliver a bariatric bed and wheelchair to a gentleman in need at a temporary shelter, even though he was not a patient of ours.

Within days our Central and Northern Kentucky teams rallied together to collect cleaning supplies, rubber boots and bottled water and transported them to our Hazard and Pikeville Regional Offices.

As the cleanup and rebuilding of these communities continues, meeting patient needs remains a challenge – but the determination and grit of our hospice team always finds a way. We continue to be uplifted by the outpouring of generosity from our Caring Community, who understand the challenges that these communities now face. Donations for Bluegrass Care Navigators and our Eastern Kentucky team and patients have come from across our Commonwealth and the country.

This kindness has helped provide relief for so many individuals immediately following the flood.

It will be a long recovery from this tragic event, but we continue to be encouraged by the dedication of our team, the resilience of our Eastern Kentucky neighbors, and the support of our Caring Community. Tomorrow, we will pick up again! A new patient will come to us. A family will face the final phase of their loved one’s care. But they won’t be alone, because we will be right there with them.