Survivors reflect on second eastern Kentucky flood anniversary as rebuild efforts continue

KNOTT COUNTY, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — It’s been two years since heavy rain, flash flooding, and devastating flooding occurred in eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia.

The region is still in the process of rebuilding. While signs of the flood remain, the area faces many challenges as it attempts to recover and rebuild hope.

“It seems like yesterday, it sure does; it don’t seem long at all,” said flood survivor Evalee Nickles.

For Knott County native Evalee Nickles, the aftermath of eastern Kentucky’s floods still brings back horrifying memories. She said no matter how much time passes or will pass, there is always a reminder when she steps outside and sees where her house once stood.

“We couldn’t do anything. It just came so fast, we didn’t realize,” said Nickles. “I just thought I was going to die. I just kept saying, ‘Lord, I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die,’ I didn’t, thank God, but it was very scary. A lot of people lost their lives in it.”

Nickles was inside her home with her son at the time of the flooding when, suddenly, she felt the home shift off its foundation and float away with her in it.

Nearly 9,000 homes were damaged or destroyed across 13 counties in Eastern Kentucky.

“Don’t seem real. I want my house back, I’ll never have it,” Nickles said.

While Nickles will never see her home again, she thanks those who have stepped in to help during a disaster.

“FEMA gave me money but you know, it wasn’t enough, the block land, and buying the block, and everything was a fortune, so, I just heard about this, and I put in an application and here they finally got here,” Nickles said.

The volunteer-based group Appalachia Service Project aims to rebuild homes so they are safer, warmer, and dryer for the people of the Appalachian region, stepping in to repair what was lost and build hope throughout a broken community.

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“I’m so happy, I love them, everyone, that little Rebecca, she’s something else. They’re all good people. This is the third month they’ve been here,” Nickles said.

Director for ASP in Knott County, Rebecca Gutierrez, said she has seen firsthand the devastation that families struggle with after a natural disaster and is thankful she has the opportunity to give back as she can provide a place for new memories to be made.

“As both staff and volunteer, you’re able to get so much from these families and take away more than you would expect coming into this week. The way they welcome us into their houses, cook us meals, even when they’ve lost so much during the flood and just welcome us into their lives is really special,” Gutierrez said.

Knott County is only one of the 17 counties that ASP serves and officials say that after seven weeks of repairing and rebuilding homes, Knott County ASP was able to finish 15 homes.

“Our volunteers come from all across the United States and get to spend a week every day with their homeowners getting to know them and I think that can be really meaningful not only to the homeowners, but especially to those youth who then are able to take this experience with them the rest of their life,” Gutierrez said.

To help donate to ASP Knott County, click here , or to give to the overall mission, click here .

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