How to Get Help With Food and Shelter After Flash Flooding in Kentucky — And How to Help Those in Need

Historically heavy rains drenched nine counties in Eastern Kentucky's Appalachian region in late July, leading to deadly flash flooding and significant and widespread property damage. Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed that dozens died as a result of the storm, which damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses and left tens of thousands without food, shelter, power or running water.

Shortly after the storm, President Joe Biden approved the state's request for a major disaster declaration, opening the door for more federal aid and resources to back up the state and local organizations helping Kentuckians deal with the aftermath of the floods.

AARP Kentucky has compiled a list of government agencies, nonprofit organizations and other groups that are accepting donations, organizing volunteers and offering supplies and support to victims and their families as clean-up and rebuilding operations begin:

EASTERN KENTUCKY RECOVERY NAVIGATION WEBINAR (Zoom)
August 18 at 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM ET




Register Online: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KKb6n6I1R8O8xjIM8KXNZg
If the July 2022 flash floods impacted you, a friend, or a relative, the SPBUSA Flash Floods Recovery Navigation webinar will provide guidance on the following topics:

• Managing existing financial obligations
• Working with your insurance company
• FEMA and Federal Assistance Programs
• Muck and Gut tips and guidance
• Avoiding Contractor Fraud

If you need emergency assistance, please call 9-1-1. As always, if you need immediate emergency assistance, please call 9-1-1.

Appalshop in Whitesburg is maintaining a list of official resources and donation funds on its Appalachian Flood Support Resources page.

Report Missing Persons
People in search of lived ones impacted by the flooding are urged to call their local Kentucky State Police post:

• 606-433-7711: Pike, Magoffin, Johnson, Martin, Floyd
• 606-435-6069: Breathitt, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Perry
• 859-623-2404: Owsley, Jackson, Lee
• 606-784-4127: Wolfe, Morgan
• 606-573-3131: Harlan

Do NOT call 911 to report missing persons. Keep calling the KSP line if you are unable to get through, as KSP is experiencing many calls at this time. You may also email ksppubaff@ky.gov.
When you call, please provide:

1. Your name (first, last)
2. Your phone number
3. Missing loved one’s name (first, last)
4. Missing loved one’s county of residence
5. Missing loved one’s description (gender, age, race, etc.)
6. Missing loved one’s home address and phone number (if known)

Shelter

• American Red Cross Eastern Kentucky Chapter - A flood response shelter has been opened in Hazard, the office can be reached at 606-629-3344 or call the main Red Cross line at 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Red Cross shelters are located here:
  
  • First Presbyterian Church, 160 Broadway, Hazard, KY 41701
  • Floyd County Community Center, 7199 KY-80, Langley, KY 41645

• State Parks
  
  • Jenny Wiley - 419 Jenny Wiley Dr, Prestonsburg, KY 41653
  • Buckhorn - 4441 KY-1833, Buckhorn, KY 41721
  • Pine Mountain - 1050 State Park Rd, Pineville, KY 40977

• Shelter by County:
  
  • Floyd County:
    
    • Floyd County Community Center - 7199 KY-80, Langley, KY 41645
      From the Floyd County Fiscal Court Facebook Page: For those displaced by flooding, the Floyd County Community Center is open and available for a safe, dry place to stay.  If you are stranded or surrounded by flood water, please call 606-886-1010 with your address and contact information.
    • Floyd County Schools - Meals for children and families will be at the following locations until 4PM Friday, July 29th. More details at their Facebook post here. 
      
      • Adams Middle
      • Allen Elementary
      • Betsy Layne Elementary
      • Duff-Allen Central Elementary
      • May Valley Elementary
      • Prestonsburg High School
      • Stumbo Elementary 
      • South Floyd Elementary

• Pike County:
  
  • Valley Elementary School - 163 Douglas Pkwy, Pikeville, KY 41501
  • East Kentucky Dream Center
  • Free Meal at 127 Hibbard St Pikeville, KY 41501
  • Free Clothing at 1946 S Mayo Trail, Pikeville, KY 41501
  • New Beginnings Fellowship Church - 116 Main St, Pikeville, KY 41501

• Breathitt County:
  
  • Breathitt County Courthouse -  1137 Main St., Jackson, KY 41339

• Perry County:
  
  • First Presbyterian Church - 160 Broadway St, Hazard, KY 41701
  • East Perry Elementary - 301 Perry Cir Rd, Hazard, KY 41701
  • West Perry Elementary - 72 Miss Edna Lane, Hazard, KY 41701
  • Gospel Light Baptist Church - 100 Independence Dr, Hazard, KY 41701
  • Second Creek Church of God (call Merill at 606-216-4142) - 406 Hull School RD Hazard, KY 41701

• Knott County:
  
  • Knott County Sportsplex - 450 Kenny Champion Loop #8765, Leburn, KY 41831

• Letcher County:
  
  • Letcher County Central High School - 435 Cougar Dr, Whitesburg, KY 41858 (The Red Cross is also set up at this location)
  • CANE Kitchen (food and water available) - 38 College Dr, Whitesburg, KY 41858
  • Pine Mountain Grill (serving food) - 45 US-119, Whitesburg, KY 41858
  • Waggin Tails Pet Resort is sheltering displaced pets - message their Facebook page to contact 

Road Conditions and Closures

• Kentuckians can monitor road conditions in Eastern Kentucky and the commonwealth using the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s GoKy Kentucky Traffic Information dashboard. The dashboard summarizes road conditions, including crashes, traffic, road hazards and weather-related incidents, as reported by the cabinet and app Waze. Users can customize what incidents they see on the map by selecting one or more of these categories, as well as specifying a county or region of the state to focus on.

After the Storm

• Insurance
  
  • If you’re uninsured — or if your insurance doesn’t cover damage related to the storm — apply for disaster assistance through FEMA.
  • If you have homeowners or renters insurance, FEMA recommends taking photos or videos of damage and filing a claim with your provider ASAP.

• Scams and Fraud
  
  • Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is encouraging Kentuckians to report suspected consumer price gouging by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 888-432-9257 or submitting an online price gouging complaint form.
  • Report suspected disaster-related scams to FEMA's Fraud Investigations and Inspections Division by emailing StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov.
  • Learn more about how to spot a scam from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

• Helpful Links:
  
  • After disasters, impacted homeowners are often at a loss for what to do next. These resources are informative and help homeowners make smart decisions in a stressful time.
    
    • SBP – Post-Disaster Homeowner Resources
    • Navigating FEMA
    • Insurance Guide
    • Avoiding Contractor Fraud
    • Contractor Fraud Checklist

• En Espanol
  
  • Información general del proceso de asistencia por desastres
  • Guía de Seguro Posterior a un Desastre
  • Cómo evitar los fraudes de contratistas
  • Lista de Verificación de Fraude para Contratistas

• Governor Andy Beshear opened an online portal for donations to flood victims at TeamEKYFloodReliefFund.ky.gov.

• American Red Cross: The Red Cross has opened shelters, sent blood to local hospitals and is helping with local damage assessments. Send a donation or schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets at redcross.org, through the Red Cross Blood Donor app, by calling 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) or by texting “REDCROSS” to 90999. Or fill out a donation form, write a check with “Kentucky floods” in the memo line and mail it to your local Red Cross chapter.

• Cowan Community Action Group's flood recovery and relief fund: The organization is collecting donations to supply food, water and medicine to those impacted by the floods, among other services.