‘It’s a good day’: HDA breaks ground on another home on higher ground

WYMT Mountain News

PERRY COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - Efforts to rebuild continue following the July 2022 flood. Last month, Governor Andy Beshear announced $13.5 million in funding from the Rural Housing Trust Fund for non-profits in Eastern Kentucky who have made efforts to rebuild.

The Housing Development Alliance received $2.5 million of the funding. Leaders said the money will help build 17 homes and repair 15 others. On Tuesday, HDA and other state and local officials broke ground on the first home being built with the funding.

“What we’ve been saying at all of these events is it’s a good day. It is actually a really really good day because today we are celebrating starting a home for Melissa and her daughters and their husky,” said Scott McReynolds, the Executive Director of HDA.

Melissa Neace and her daughters are moving into the home, and Melissa said it was a very exciting day for her family.

Eastern Kentucky One Year After the Flooding

Bringing It Home with KHC

Bringing It Home is a multimedia space hosted by Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) where the affordable housing community can read, listen, watch, and participate in the discussion of new ideas, best practices, policy tools, and stories of those affected by and shaping affordable housing.

Eastern Kentucky One Year After the Flooding – Part 1 – The Homeowners

The flooding of late July 2022 devastated communities in Eastern Kentucky. In this episode, we look back at the events of those days through the eyes of two flood survivors: Sherry Mullins, whose home was swept off its foundation by a 30-foot wave, and Adam Stacey, whose home suffered substantial water damage but fortunately was repairable. In the year since, both Sherry and Adam have received support from Housing Development Alliance (HDA), one of the few nonprofit affordable housing developers in the region.

Listen to Sherry and Adam share their stories and learn about how the rebuilding efforts in Eastern Kentucky have been life-changing for some lifelong residents.

Eastern Kentucky One Year After the Flooding – Part 2 – The Builders

The flooding of late July 2022 devastated communities in Eastern Kentucky. In this episode, we look back at the events of those days through the eyes of two affordable housing developers: Scott McReynolds, executive director of Housing Development Alliance in Hazard, and Seth Long, executive director of HOMES, Inc. in Letcher County. Since the night of the flood, both organizations have devoted their efforts almost entirely to the recovery.

Eastern Kentucky floods haunt survivors trying to move forward one year later

FOX Weather

HAZARD, Kentucky – On a hot July day, Carolyn Short can be found enjoying the view from her new front porch with a breeze blowing her wind chimes. Despite the heat, she enjoys the fresh air.

One year ago on July 27, 2022, Short's view was dangerously different as she climbed into her attic as a last effort to survive the deadly flash flooding emergency that tore through her community in Perry County, destroying thousands of homes.

Over four days, the National Weather Service issued multiple Flash Flooding Emergencies across Eastern Kentucky. The flooding came overnight when many were asleep.

Flooding Hits American Towns Far From Oceans and Big Rivers

The Wall Street Journal

Unprecedented storms in Kentucky illustrate a growing and often overlooked threat: severe flooding across the inland U.S.

Governor Beshear dedicates second home funded in part by EKY flood relief fund

WYMT Mountain News

WHITESBURG, Ky. (WYMT) - Governor Andy Beshear was in Letcher County on Tuesday, dedicating the construction of the second home to be partially funded by the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.

Letcher County-natives William and Jason Gross will be moving into the home.

“It couldn’t happen to two greater people. It’s happening in a neighborhood that Homes (inc.) is building that will have three or four families of flood survivors. They’re already getting to know each other, so they will move in already with neighbors that they know and that care about them,” said Beshear.

Gov. Andy Beshear visits Letcher County, breaks ground on new flood relief home

WYMT Mountain News

WHITESBURG, Ky. (WYMT) - Governor Andy Beshear made a trip to the mountains on Monday, making several stops along the way, including one in Whitesburg.

The Governor joined an Eastern Kentucky family in breaking ground on their new home.

“This is an incredibly special day, people lost everything in this flooding, most importantly their home. It’s a place we feel safe, it’s a place where we make memories,” said Beshear.

‘Today is a good day’: Another home built from ‘Housing Can’t Wait’ initiative

WYMT Mountain News

CHAVIES, Ky. (WYMT) - George and Sherry Mullins, a Breathitt County couple who lost their home in the July flood, will now be living on higher ground.

“We’re starting again at our age, but we’ll do that,” Sherry Mullins said.

Their new home is the seventh built from the ‘Housing Can’t Wait’ initiative, which was created by local non-profits to address community needs after the flood.

‘This is an answered prayer’: Organizations help Letcher County families find home after the floods

WYMT Mountain News

WHITESBURG, Ky. (WYMT) - Several organizations joined hands over the last several months, working to give Eastern Kentucky flood victims a place to call home.

Friday, one Letcher County family celebrated its new space with a ceremony that invited the hands and feet that helped them get there.

HOMES, Inc. and Fahe, joined by relief partners from around the region, handed off the keys to a new home as part of the “Housing Can’t Wait” initiative.