Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur any time and often with little warning. Disasters take many forms, and we can feel their impacts across most areas of family life. Because there is no “one-size-fits-all” disaster model, planning community outreach can be challenging, and Cooperative Extension is often involved in disaster preparation and response at the local level. As a result of regional needs, Kayla Watts, County Agent on Special Assignme
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
When a 1000-year flood hit Letcher County and others in the southeast of the state, agricultural producers took a significant hit. Most all of the industry is located in bottoms along the small, narrow valleys the region is known for. High-Tunnels, horticultural crops, beekeepers, livestock and others were decimated. Without assistance, there would be no future production.Working to boost morale, give producers contacts to the various agencies that offer assistance, to allow producers to investi
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s September 2023 report on the historic Eastern Kentucky flooding of July 2022, over 8,900 households were affected or completely lost during that natural disaster event. Of those households, 74% were within the highest affected area of Breathitt, Perry, Knott, and Letcher counties. Families lost homes, vehicles, and stored food supplies, exacerbating a regional, high food-insecurity rate. Because flood recovery efforts ta
Author: Kelsey Sebastian
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s September 2023 report on the historic Eastern Kentucky flooding of July 2022, over 8,900 households were affected or completely lost during that natural disaster event. Of those households, 74% were within the highest affected area of Breathitt, Perry, Knott, and Letcher counties. Families lost homes, vehicles, and stored food supplies, exacerbating a regional, high food-insecurity rate. Because flood recovery effo
Author: Lorie Adams
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s September 2023 report on the historic Eastern Kentucky flooding of July 2022, over 8,900 households were affected or completely lost during that natural disaster event. Of those households, 74% were within the highest affected area of Breathitt, Perry, Knott, and Letcher counties. Families lost homes, vehicles, and stored food supplies, exacerbating a regional, high food-insecurity rate. Because flood recovery effo
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
According to FEMA.gov, the state of Kentucky has had nine federally declared disasters since the beginning of 2020. These disasters have affected various regions of the state causing chaos and forever changing the landscape of the Commonwealth. Because Cooperative Extension agents work in all 120 counties of Kentucky, agents have been called upon during these declared disasters to assist their local communities and leaders. Although agents want to help their clientele and counties, proper protoc
Author: Steven Mobley
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
Immediately following a natural disaster, volunteers are abundant to address the immediate needs of those affected. But as the months, even years, go by and other disasters require immediate assistance in other areas, those still recovering from the devastation are often left to their own resources as their recovery efforts continue. Many survivors of the 2022 floods in Eastern Kentucky are still working to rebuild their lives, their homes, and their communities. The Knott Coun
Author: Victor Williams
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
Immediately following a natural disaster, volunteers are abundant to address the immediate needs of those affected. But as the months, even years, go by and other disasters require immediate assistance in other areas, those still recovering from the devastation are often left to their own resources as their recovery efforts continue. Many survivors of the 2022 floods in Eastern Kentucky are still working to rebuild their lives, their homes, and their communities. The Knott Coun
Author: Lorie Adams
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur at any time and often with little warning. Disasters take many forms, and we can feel their impact across many areas of family life. Because there is no “one-size-fits-all” disaster model, planning community outreach can be challenging, and Cooperative Extension is often involved in disaster preparation and response at the local level.As a result of regional needs, Lorie Adams, Knott County Exte
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index, which measures several categories of data across census tracts in the U.S., shows Kentucky communities are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. According to FEMA.gov, the state of Kentucky has had nine federally declared disasters since the beginning of 2020. These disasters have affected various regions of the state causing chaos. The Climate Vulnerability Index suggests that these natural disasters will continue to occur
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
According to Ready.gov, the Federal Emergency Management’s resource site, “Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms including blizzards can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds.” Because Kentuckians experience winter weather in various forms each year, it is important to prepare them for these events. As a result of winter weather
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
According to FEMA.gov, the state of Kentucky has had over 10 federally declared disasters since the beginning of 2020. These disasters have affected various regions of the state causing chaos. The Climate Vulnerability Index suggests that these natural disasters will continue to occur in Kentucky, thus better preparation for stakeholders must take place.To better prepare their workforce, the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program, (NEP) provided training for their leadership team that focuse
