Families in the Estill County community are on the road to recovery

ESTILL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — In 2021, Brittany Karby and her family’s life changed when flooding destroyed their home. Now, the floods have returned—this time, the damage was far less severe.

“It’s materialistic things. Clothes, my daughter’s clothes, our clothes, but not nothing that can’t be replaced,” Karby said.

Karby said the first time around was horrible, “was very emotional for me and my dad because we were there for 33 years.”

She said her home was rebuilt to withstand high water thanks to the Appalachia Service Project. The upper level stayed dry this week, though the basement did not escape flooding. Karby said cleaning will take time, but they are grateful for what matters.

“It’s a hard time regardless. I mean, it’s hard losing what you work for your whole life, but at the same time it’s good a life wasn’t lost or anything,” Karby said.

Karby’s story is just one of many.

Helping Hands Outreach and its president, Debbie Rison, have been on the ground, assisting families across the community.

“A flood is, it’s big, and I know we’ve not been hit as bad as some of the other places, but we’ve hit, and there are people in need here,” Rison said.

Estill Springs Elementary has become a gathering place, offering hot meals and essential resources to flood victims, volunteers, and first responders.

Rison said the support from the organization and donors has made a difference, but she hopes an even larger distribution in the coming days will provide greater relief.

“We’re going to get a semi-truck in tomorrow, Rison said. “We’ll be getting hygiene bags and cleaning buckets and probably some food,” Rison said.

The distribution is scheduled for this Sunday at the Ravenna Food Bank.