On May 14, Summer Brown, a senior lecturer at the University of Kentucky’s department of earth and environmental sciences, participated in a discussion with Doug Naselroad. They were united at the Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Company which is based in Hindman, Kentucky. Their conversation highlighted the growing crisis of extreme weather events in the region and the importance of doing more to combat it. Kentucky is still reeling from historic flooding and landslides. This continuing crisis comes on the heels of the devastating 2022 floods that took dozens of lives and forced thousands of residents from their homes.
The recent town of Fisty, Kentucky, offers a chilling portrait of the destruction left behind by these relentless natural disasters. Her entire community was devastated by the destruction in 2022, with only two businesses reopening since the disaster. Two local residents, James Baker and his 78-year-old father, Harold Baker, still have not recovered from the effects of the insidious storm. In the meantime, Danielle Baker, Harold’s sister-in-law, will continue to be haunted by the fear of future flooding. “I really thought we were going to lose everything again, it was terrifying,” she remembered.
And the growing climate crisis is making everything worse, increasing heavy rainfall over the entire state of Kentucky. Communities like Fleming-Neon have been particularly hard-hit. Just a few weeks ago, another damaging landslide hit the community while residents were still recovering from a February deluge. A little over a half mile away, Thomas Sutton continues to live in trepidation after walking the unpredictable razorback ridges of these active landslides.
As a response to the challenges described above, geologists are undertaking new efforts to establish baseline environmental conditions in Kentucky. A paleo-flood research project is ongoing, which includes excavating layers of sediment from these plate tectonics-induced waves along certain stretches of the Kentucky River. This research will assist scientists in creating more precise flood and landslide models, customized to different areas of Appalachia.
“Rivers are different all over Appalachia, and if our research continues we can build accurate flood and landslide models that help communities plan for storms in a changing climate,” – Jason Dortch
The need for this research was made clear when residents in Louisiana realized their warning systems for dangerous weather events were underdeveloped. Brown made a strong case for hyper-local data. This can only happen with reliable weather forecasting and a robust, regionalized network of gauges to increase community preparedness and resilience.
Danielle Baker echoed this sentiment, stating, “A lot of people here would not know what to do without FEMA’s help. We need more information about the weather, better warnings, because the rains are getting worse.”
The empty homes and torn-up ground on Troublesome Creek is a heartbreaking testament to the devastation brought about by the 2022 floods. Thomas Hutton, a local resident, lamented the loss of community spirit: “The people in this community are the best you could meet, but it’s a ghost town now. I had no desire to restore the built environment in a floodplain right on top of the creek, but we really didn’t have any other option. Every time it rains, I can’t sleep.
Researchers like Brown and her colleagues aren’t just chasing ivory tower questions. They are truly putting the pedal down in their efforts to protect communities and save lives. Sarah Johnson stated, “We’re not sitting in an ivory tower making money from research. The work we do is about making communities safer.”
The fight for existence goes on, as beleaguered towns such as Fisty and Fleming-Neon face off with Mother Nature. And with the ongoing, ever-growing danger of catastrophic extreme weather conditions, the long-term livability of these communities is in serious doubt.
“This is where most people are going to die unless we create reliable warning systems and model future flood risks for mitigation and to help mountain communities plan for long-term resilience. Otherwise, these extreme flooding events could be the end of southern Appalachia,” – Ryan Thigpen
As scientists work diligently to gather data and develop predictive models, local residents cling to hope amidst their struggles. The urgency continues to increase with every storm that still crosses their homes. Each day comes with a different challenge in a community still dealing with the long legacy of historical environmental racism made worse by climate change.