Central Appalachia Floods

In Eastern Kentucky rainfall began on Friday, February 14, 2025, which led to devastating flooding throughout the area over the weekend. The severe storms and flooding also impacted Southwest Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Thousands have been left without power after the storms. HAC offers the following resources with information for communities and organizations dealing with loss and damage from the recent flooding: Rural Resilience in the Face of Disaster site and Disaster Response for Rural Communities Guide.  

In response to the flooding, President Trump approved an emergency declaration for the state of Kentucky. The action authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate disaster relief efforts. In addition to these resources, the Kentucky National Guard has assisted with the evacuation of residents. 

Resources for Individuals

If you or your family have been affected by the recent flooding, or wish to help victims, organizations like The American Red Cross, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) Foundation Relief Fund, and The United Way of Southern West Virginia have resources available. If you are in need of emergency, transient housing, you can text SHELTER and your Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find where the shelter closest to you is located. 

Apply for FEMA Assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. FEMA Disaster Assistance Helpline answers questions about the help offered by FEMA, how to apply for assistance, or the information in your account. 

Toll-free helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) For hearing impaired callers only: 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) 1-800-621-3362 (Video Relay Service) Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET 

American Red Cross Disaster Service: For referrals and updates on Red Cross shelter services in your area, locate a local Red Cross office through: https://www.redcross.org/find-help or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) The Red Cross helps disaster victims by providing safe shelter, hot meals, essential relief supplies, emotional support and health services like first aid. Trained Red Cross workers often meet one-on-one with families to develop individual plans and identify available resources to help aid recovery.