FLOYD COUNTY, KY (WOWK) – Families across eastern Kentucky lost everything during the deadly Summer 2022 floods that ripped through communities across the state. Now, in communities like Wayland, they are laying the foundation for the next chapter: building new homes.
Just over a year and a half after the floods, the foundation for those 11 homes will come to light and bring a new chapter for flood survivors. Volunteer organizations, like Appalachian Service Project, said the goal is to have all 11 homes completed by late June.
One flood survivor, Jackie Bradley, lost everything when floods swept through Wayland. She’s been waiting for a home to call her own since.
“I lost everything; I mean everything. I have two grandsons who are deceased and my husband, and I lost all their stuff too. So, it was really hard,” Bradley said.
Those floods left scars on dozens of communities beyond just Wayland.
In Wayland, the community and state leaders came together Tuesday to celebrate the construction of the new homes. The event brought out mixed emotions because the state still mourns the 45 people across the state who were killed in the floods.
“We think back to the devastating lives that took 45 lives, 45 children of God that are no longer with us today and that we still mourn even in happy times like today,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said at the event. “I think the way we honor their lives and we ensure that we recognize that loss is to come together.”
As Beshear and others put it, blessings are coming for affected areas like Wayland because of people coming together to restore those areas and build new homes.
“This is my new home. I know, I’m so excited. You have no idea, and I’m so thankful to the people that did it,” Bradley said as she spoke to 13 News outside of what will be her house come summertime.
Bradley tearfully added, “You have no idea how thankful I am for these people and everybody that’s helped. I mean, it’s like me coming home, you know like if you go on vacation, you just can’t wait to get home.”
Building her home, along with 10 others in Wayland, was made possible because of volunteers and community members.
“Home is where the heart is. That’s where we build our families, and really as a firm foundation, for continuing successful lives overall, we believe housing first is important,” Melisa Wineurn said. She is the President CEO of Appalachia Service Project, an organization that helps struggling families obtain homes.
“ASP had volunteers on the ground when the floods happened a year and a half ago, and we’ve been in eastern Kentucky for 50 years. So, these were our friends and our neighbors in need,” Wineurn said.