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    Overnight rains bring catastrophic flooding to eastern Kentucky

    #ChefsForKentucky
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    Eastern Kentucky | Active from July – September 2022
    As the situation unfolded, it became clear that this would be one of the most devastating and deadly floods in Kentucky’s history. WCK’s Relief Team was on the ground getting fresh meals and clean water to people in need.

    Late into the night on July 27, pouring rains triggered severe flooding across eastern Kentucky. Entire homes were destroyed and multiple people lost their lives. Some families were trapped on their rooftops as washed out or impassable roads and bridges left areas isolated and cut-off from support. Adding to this increasingly difficult situation, lines of communication were down, thousands were without power, and clean water was scarce. 

    Mobilizing WCK chefs and logistics experts, we arrived shortly after, spreading our team across the impacted areas. Following fresh meal and water distribution, we partnered with the LEE Initiative to establish farmers markets across four hard-hit counties.

    Experts believe the climate crisis is supercharging rainfall around the world. As temperatures rise, the atmosphere can hold more moisture that can lead to more rainfall and make record-breaking downpours more common. Many areas in the US like Kentucky were being affected by prolonged monsoonal and Gulf of Mexico moisture.

    Chefs For Kentucky

    WCK joins the local community working around the clock to cook for Kentuckians in need

    WCK chefs quickly ramped up our support, preparing thousands of plates of food like Appalachian soup beans with onions and cornbread. We set up distribution sites in hard-hit communities and delivered door-to-door to people unable to leave their homes.

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    Kim & Kristi

    Kim & Kristi usually use the Rosie the Readiness bus to bring books & supplies to children in the most remote hollers of eastern Kentucky—now, they’re filling it up with hot, fresh WCK meals & water for families impacted by the flood.

    Betty

    “Jesus! Get me to my grand babies’ house!”Betty was awoken by the floods and as she tried to swim out of her home with her kitten, slipped & fell. She was unable to find her kitten but escaped. When the water receded, Betty’s kitten safely found its way home.

    Nancy

    Nancy & her family live along a creek. A small bridge connects them to the main road. As flood waters rose, Nancy grabbed her pets and went for higher ground before hearing the crash of her neighbor’s car into the bridge, cutting off the family’s access out.

    More news from the ground

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    • A look inside WCK produce boxes in Kentucky! 👀 After serving 75,000 meals, we worked with the LEE Initiative to provide 500 boxes of fresh, locally grown fruits & veggies—and dry goods—to families impacted by floods. 🫑🍅🍑 WCK Farmers Markets are next! #ChefsForKentucky

      Twitter | 8/15/2022

    • “When we’re cleaning, we don’t think about eating… it makes you think about the people who prepared it. The people who remember we are out here.” Bradley & Pamela have been salvaging what they can following the floods, including drying out precious photos. #ChefsForKentucky

      Twitter | 8/07/2022

    • Despite our kitchen unexpectedly losing power, WCK chefs continue making thousands of daily meals for families affected by the flooding. Using our food truck & also bringing out our massive paella pan 🥘 we cooked up plates of BBQ pulled pork & mixed veggies! #ChefsForKentucky

      Twitter | 8/06/2022