Flood Disaster Relief Updates & Resources
Historic flooding has devastated eastern Kentucky. Three of the four counties we serve – Breathitt, Knott, and Perry – are some of the hardest hit. In these counties, the national news media has shown the world the destruction and heartache: entire neighborhoods gone, homes demolished, lives lost and so many others forever changed. The people we serve were poor before this flood, and now, the need is absolutely staggering. As we transition from providing flood relief to long-term recovery, we need your help! Please volunteer, donate, send supplies/gifts in-kind, whatever you can do to lend a hand to our community.
Data from Foundation of Appalachian Kentucky & Team Kentucky
Other Ways to Donate
If you’d rather not donate online, there are other ways you can show your support for the people of East Kentucky through the Housing Development Alliance!
- Send a check, cash donation, or in-kind gift to Housing Development Alliance, Inc., P.O. Box 7284, Hazard, KY 41702. In the memo, be sure to note that your donation is for “Flood Relief.”
- Drop off a check, cash donation, or in-kind gift at our office located at 2871 North Main St., Hazard, KY 41701.
- Volunteer! (More info below.)
How to Volunteer
Come Make a Difference You Can See & Feel!
If you’d like to help with flood relief and recovery in East Kentucky, please come serve with us. Opportunities are available to help out at worksites in Perry County, and soon, Breathitt and Knott counties. Just contact our office at 606-436-0497 and ask for Max or email Max. Max is coordinating our flood relief volunteers and will work with you to select the best day and time and will assign you or your group a project/worksite! Once you know your work day, prepare to arrive at our office at the designated time. (Click here to see a map of our office location.)
You can also sign up to volunteer online – just select Flood Relief in the list of volunteer events. Max or a member of our staff will then reach out to you ASAP!
What You'll Be Doing
- Mucking Out Homes, Basements & Crawlspaces
- Gutting Flood Damaged Homes
- Flood Debris Cleanup
- Mold Control & Remediation
You’ll be helping folks who have lost everything or whose homes have been severely damaged. The help you give will bring hope to our community and will help keep survivors from reaching their breaking point.
You can volunteer as an individual or group. Please come prepared! You must have your own transportation and provide your own lodging and food & drinks for your service day(s). Bringing your own tools isn’t necessary, but you’re welcome to do so if you’d like. Be sure to wear boots (muck boots with a steel toe are preferred), gloves (leather preferred), and safety goggles. We have a limited supply of some of these items, as well as knee pads, Nitrile gloves, hard hats, and Tyvek suits. We also suggest wearing pants instead of shorts.
Occasionally, roads close for repairs in our area, which might cause us to change our plans for your work day. Please understand that roads often close without warning, making some of our worksites inaccessible. If this happens or if heavy rains cause us to shut down a worksite, we will reschedule with you or send your group to help at our local Flood Relief Distribution Center, where help loading, unloading, sorting, and other types of assistance are needed.
If you have questions, please call us ahead of your trip: 606-436-0497.
Resources for Flood Victims
We know it’s overwhelming right now, but help is available in this time of crisis. If we can’t directly help you, we’ll connect you to someone who may be able to offer the assistance you need.
Crisis Cleanup
Need help with mucking & gutting out your home, mold control, and flood debris cleanup? We can help get you entered into the Crisis Cleanup database! This online resource lists flood victims, their locations, and needs so that flood relief groups can come to your aid! Being listed in the system is NOT a guarantee of assistance, but it will definitely put you in a better position to get the helping hand you need. The Housing Development Alliance will claim several of these projects, while other agencies, like Samaritan's Purse or Aspire Appalachia, will claim projects as well. Just give us a call at 606-436-0497, request flood relief/cleanup assistance, and we'll get you signed up!
Prevent Mold
We’ve received lots of calls and emails from folks needing help with mold control. Mold is a common problem after flooding and can be harmful to your health. It must be effectively cleared before you can start rebuilding. Remember: you can’t get rid of mold with bleach or vinegar! Neither is capable of cleaning below the surfaces of wood or concrete. You need a fungicide, like Concrobium, because these are cleaning agents made specifically for killing mold. If a fungicide isn’t used, the mold can and will regrow!
Concrobium
You can purchase this product locally, but we suggest going to a local Flood Relief Distribution Center (in Hazard, the Center is located at the old JCPenneys store) and requesting it. Depending on the amount of mold you have, you may need the spray bottle or the jug.
Moisture Meter
Moisture Meters help detect moisture spots with possible mold growth. If your meter reading in wood is more than 20%, you may want to check these areas for mold growth. When the meter is above 20%, this is possibly where mold growth can start to happen.
Useful Materials
Thanks to SBP for these helpful guides!
Photo by Clara Leonard / Appalachia Service Project
Flood Stories, Videos & Photo Collections
Check out helpful videos, “boots on the ground” stories, and photos from our hard hit community.
Photo Collection Courtesy of Clara Leonard / Appalachia Service Project
