On Valentine's Day 2025, heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in eastern Kentucky, leading to over 1,000 water rescues and extensive property damage. This was not an isolated incident, as similar catastrophic flooding had occurred multiple times in recent years, exacerbating issues within the region. The persistence of these floods raises concerns about community preparedness and long-term recovery, as many residents repeatedly face the same threats. Amidst these challenges, the ongoing decline of the coal industry reveals the socioeconomic strains and housing crises affecting the resilient yet vulnerable populace of Appalachia.
Each of these events was considered to be a 'thousand-year flood,' with a 1-in-1,000 chance of happening in a given year. Yet they're happening more often.
The floods have highlighted the resilience of local people to work together for collective survival in rural Appalachia.
As short-term cleanup leads to long-term recovery efforts, residents can face daunting barriers that leave many facing the same flood risks over and over again.
It's a complex region often painted in broad brushstrokes that miss the geographic, socioeconomic and ideological diversity it holds.
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