LEBURN, Ky. — In Knott County, dozens of families displaced by July’s historic flooding are living in travel trailers provided by the government, including Jade Fox, her two boys and her fiancé. 

What You Need To Know

  • Eastern Kentucky experienced historic flooding in July

  • Many lost everything, including their homes

  • Hundreds are still living in temporary housing

  • Some feel that are not receiving the aid they need

Fox lost her home in neighboring Breathitt County and had to be rescued by a helicopter. “We lost a lot. We lost everything but at least we got out with our lives. They pulled out eight dead bodies from our holler alone, and they are still looking for a woman, they don’t even know where she’s at,” Fox said. 

Once the water receded, she says nothing could be saved. “They condemned the whole house. It was just floors falling through, walls are like paper mache, there’s no going back in and saving nothing because it’s just gone. Everything’s molded, rotted. I mean it’s fell through,” Fox said. 

Fox’s family has been living in a trailer provided by the state for the last two months at Mine Made Adventure Park in Lebrun. Her mother-in-law, who also lost her home, is in the travel trailer next door. 

In Gov. Beshear’s Team Kentucky update on October 20, he said Kentucky State Parks are currently housing 263 people. Since early October, 13 individuals have transitioned out of state parks. Currently, 526 individuals are being housed in 200 travel trailers.

Fox says at Mine Made, donations have slowed to a crawl recently, but the need for continued assistance is still there. “We’ve been up here for almost two months and I thought and I keep thinking that somebody is going to come up here. Somebody is going to show up, be my saving grace and help us, you know, get back on our feet but where’s it at? It’s not happening,” Fox said. 

A county away from her home, up a long gravel road, and on top of a mountain, Fox says she feels forgotten.  “Yeah, I do honestly,” Fox said. 

Months after losing everything Fox and many others feel like not enough has been done to support those who are having to completely start over. “I hate asking for help, but every little bit would help you know,” Fox said. 

Like so many in this part of the state, Fox says she wouldn’t hesitate to give the shirt off her back to help someone in need. She’s asking now that someone does the same for her family. 

Also according to the governor, the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund has raised over $10.5 million from more than 37,000 donors. 

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