The Road to Recovery

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

They are thankful to be safe after the flood, though their homes had up to 4 feet of water inside and 30 years' worth of belongings were destroyed. The Franklin* and Lewis* families were two of more than 80 families in Pike County, Kentucky, impacted by what the National Weather Service called “life threatening” flash flooding in late August.

“These were dangerously swift flood waters that did major damage,” said Jamie Conley, Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Housing manager for Floyd, Johnson, and Martin Counties. “Most of the homes were either washed away or beyond repair. Around 90 percent of the homes impacted were total losses. Very few were repairable.”

While Disaster Relief efforts continue after historic flooding on the heels of an ice storm in Eastern Kentucky earlier this year, CAP’s Housing and Disaster Relief staff and volunteers stepped in to help the Franklin and Lewis families start their path to recovery by doing muck outs, or removing wet materials, mud, and debris from the homes and sanitizing to prevent molding.

“We did not hesitate to step up and step out to help these families in our own backyard,” said Robyn Renner, director of CAP’s Disaster Relief Program and the Housing manager for Rockcastle, Jackson, and McCreary Counties. “I am grateful for all of our staff and volunteers who have continued to bring comfort and hope for families who have faced devastation this year.”

For the Franklin and Lewis families, who live side by side, CAP staff and volunteers removed wet insulation from underneath both homes, removed 4 feet of sheetrock and insulation from the walls of one home and 2 feet of the same in the other. They also removed flooring, cabinets, furniture, and their damaged belongings. In the more than 30 years of living there, the families had never been flooded.

“The flood caused severe anxiety and depression to the homeowners,” Conley said. “They did not have flood insurance, so everything that was damaged is going to have to be replaced by them out of their pockets. Most of those are items they have worked hard for more than 30 years to have.”

Since March, CAP has mucked out 59 homes and repaired another 42, with five more in progress and one on the waiting list. The disaster relief and recovery work that has been done throughout 2021 would not be possible without support.

“If it weren’t for our partners, volunteers, and donors, there is no way we could have helped all of those who needed help,” Conley said. “We typically do home repair but in emergency cases, such as the flooding that has taken place this year, we want to do what we can to help families in need, and that takes an army. We are very thankful for anything and everything our supporters have done for us to be able to answer prayers for these families.”

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) Housing staff helped two families in Pike County, Kentucky, clean up mud and debris after flooding damaged their homes in late August. Housing crew leaders Mike Troutman (left) and Ron Morrow (right) were some of the staff who helped evaluate damages and muck out the homes.