“Beshear praises high ground communities on 2-year anniversary of eastern Kentucky floods”

WCHS News

WAYLAND, Ky. (WCHS) — Gov. Andy Beshear was in Floyd County to mark the two year anniversary of the historic floods that devastated eastern Kentucky and to praise recovery efforts in the form of high ground communities across the region.

One of those high ground communities is in the town of Wayland in Floyd County. Friday morning 11 families who lost their homes in the floods took ownership of new houses built on higher ground and Beshear announced funding for 13 more high ground homes in town.

Those who lived in eastern Kentucky at the time will likely never forget the scenes of flooded streets and structures.

"The floors were gone. It was totally gone," said Buddy Jervis who lost his home to the floods.

The Jervis family is one of the families to move into a new home built by the Appalachian Service Project of Tennessee.

"It means a lot. This is something we have never owned before, nothing like this. This is beautiful," said Jervis.

"As long as funding is available and there is volunteers and there are people who need a home, we will keep going," said John Pearce, Chairman of the Board at Appalachian Service Project.