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 take place well after the initial impact of a disaster, and because individuals felt as though they had no education, resources, or equipment to better secure a food supply for their families, Knott County FCS Agent, Lorie Adams, Perry County FCS Agent, Kelsey Sebastian, and Community Recovery & Resiliency Agent, Kayla Watts, presented the Canning After a Disaster program in partnership with the First Presbyterian Church of Hazard.  The program took place one year after the historic flooding, was a two-day educational event covering boiling water and pressure canning and was open to participants from the four-county area hardest hit by the disaster.  

22 adults attended and 5 adults volunteered for the Canning After a Disaster program hosted at the First Presbyterian Church. Each participant discussed how their family’s food supply was impacted by the 2022 flooding, with most stating they had lost whole freezers full of preserved foods, thus creating an interest in how to preserve using canning methods.   All participants practiced selecting and preserving various fruits and vegetables through hands-on boing water canning and pressure canning.  100% of participants increased their knowledge of food selection and preservation and stated they felt more comfortable with proper canning practices; indicated using a pre/post evaluation.  One participant stated, “This is a great program.  I lost everything in the flood including my freezer full of meat and veggies.  I’ve always wanted to learn how to can instead of just freezing.”  Church volunteers managed canning equipment donations, allowing all 22 participants to take home new jars and canners at the end of each session.

Behavior change was also indicated with program participants. Using a 3-month follow up survey clientele were able to indicate the skills used and the food they had preserved after attending the program.   Overall, 405 pints of fruits, vegetables, and salsa were preserved using methods and techniques learned at Canning After a Disaster.  One participant stated, “This was the best program I have ever attended,” while another said it was, “A tremendous blessing to receive the tools to get started.”

The Canning After a Disaster program was a success.   Participants learned new food preservation techniques, and were given the equipment to do so, all which aids disaster recovery and helps fight food insecurity.