July 28, 2022 was a day that changed lives for ever in Letcher County and mush of Eastern Kentucky. The night turned to a devastating day break as many of us woke to complete and utter devastation. I was awakened to the sound of heavy rain and lightning at 2:30 A.M. the electricity had gone off at 12:00 A.M. but I didn't pay much attention as we lost power a lot during heavy storms. I looked out the window to see the water had come up some but not an alarming amount at that time so I went back to bed. I got back up at 4:30 A.M. and we had no road, no driveway water was almost to my house. The phones, power, cell service, where out ,no clue as to what had happened in Letcher and surrounding counties. I got to my neighbors to check on her an elderly lady that is raising her great grandchild.  Once I finally got through to my coworkers to learn of what had taken place immediately the Letcher County Extension Office staff and agents started helping others. We began going out to the community and helping at Letcher County Central High School which was main hub for the Whitesburg ares, Jenkins Middle High School which was a shelter and hub for the Jenins area, Letcher Elementary school which was the hub for the Isom-Blackey area. Neon looked like a nuclear bomb had went off in that are the people of that area and witnessed the amount of flooding that was just unbelievable unless you actually witnessed it with your own eyes. Donations made it possible to help get food, clothing, blankets, tents, other items that folks in this area needed with the help o from so many that came our way from across Kentucky and other states. We are forever grateful for all that has been sent our way. Four schools have been lost through all of this devastations. We have elementary kids that are on buses for hours at a time just to get to from school. Elementary kids at the high school and pre school, FMD, and sutisms units at the other end of the county. Everyone is having to make adjustments but we are learning through all of this it is not easy but we can make it work as a county. Two of the public libraries have been destroyed but, they are the in stage of being renovated and  80  percent of the homes in in Letcher County have been have been affected by the flooding. This leaves so many of our people asking what do they do? How do they start over? Homes, vehicles, down to the clothes on their back is gone. It is the smallest things that matter to our people. Most days a smile and a word of encouragement was worth as much as money. The most important lesson that I have learned from this flood is always be thankful for what you have. People only want a little bit of your time and a smile goes a a long way to brighten someone else's day. 

The Letcher County Extension Office also served our community as a Red Cross Shelter. At last total 40 families and been helped through the Red Cross Shelter that houses for four weeks I believe. 

  Many times over I have said it is like a 3rd world country in Letcher County right now and will be for some time but one thing is for sure we are Eastern Kentucky strong and we will come back better than ever.