LOST CREEK, Ky. — Medical workers in Breathitt County are working around the clock to help those in need in southeastern Kentucky. 

Dr. Derrick Hamilton, CEO of Juniper Health, has seen nearly 100 people in southeastern Kentucky over the last few days.

“As horrible as the pictures and the videos are, until you get here and see it, till you get here and experience the humanity and until you get here and you’ll smell the smells, and just feel — it’s a visceral experience,” Hamilton said.

On Monday, Hamilton and his team set up a mobile clinic in Lost Creek in the parking lot of Marie Roberts Elementary School. A location, Hamilton said, connects some of the counties impacted.

“Could be a new medical condition or one that you’ve had to neglect the last few days, whether it be loss of medicine or just not able to access health care,” Hamilton said.

Medical conditions that go untreated, can turn into severe infections and unsafe quickly, especially anyone who comes in contact with flood waters.

“The big concern is, you know, open wounds, getting new wounds, punctures, you know, cuts on your hands, cuts on your legs etc. That these can rapidly even in Healthy People get out of control,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the community is his home, and his medical staff is working to refill prescriptions and get help to those in need as quickly as possible.

“As devastating as it is, this is what people of Appalachia do. They just pull together and they just fight. And we’re just a bunch of fighters and we’re just fighting back, bur, this is bigger than us this time,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said they plan to be at their mobile location Monday through Friday until the foreseeable future, and hope to play a small part in getting his community back on their feet. 

In addition to the mobile medical clinic, Friday morning Marie Roberts Elementary School will have mobile showers, washer and dryers for clothing items, food and water, creating one location for people to get most of their needs taken care of.