FISTY, Ky. — Rebuilding continues in eastern Kentucky one year after record floods ravaged the area, destroying people’s homes, taking their belongings and claiming the lives of over 40 people.

What You Need To Know

  • Rebuild continues in Eastern KY one year after floods ravaged the area

  • 10 families in Knott and Floyd Counties will have their homes rebuilt thanks to Christian Appalachian Project and Appalachia Service Project

  • CAP is using a $250,000 grant to rebuild the homes lost 

  • The Ritchie family of Fisty purchased their home two years ago and lost it last year

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman visited Knott County Wednesday and saw firsthand the progress that’s been made one year after the floods, including a home being rebuilt for a family that lost it all last year. Coleman said this site represents hope but says there’s so much work left to do.

“This is a mile marker, this is not a finish line and we will continue to put one foot in front of the other until the work is done and to be able to help frame one of the walls in this home was really special to me,” Coleman said.

It’s been one year since the waters of Troublesome Creek reached heights no one in Knott County has seen in quite some time. It wiped out nearly everything in its path, including the home of the Ritchie family of Fisty. Now one year later, with the help of some nonprofits, they’re looking to rebuild their home in the same spot they lost it all.

Della Ritchie still gets emotional thinking back to last year’s July floods that swept away the home she and her husband worked hard for.

“Having your grandbaby with her head in your chest screaming and crying, ‘Mommy that’s our house it’s going down the creek, it’s going down the creek,’” Ritchie said.

One year ago, the Ritchies and others in eastern Kentucky lost their homes, belongings and over 40 people lost their lives, including seven of Ritchie’s neighbors.

“They’re no longer here with us and I want their families to know that I’m so sorry that they lost their loved ones,” Ritchie said.

The Ritchies were fortunate enough to survive and have been living with neighbors. But in a few short months will soon call a new house a home.

“My husband and I came down here with our chairs just last night and thinking we’re so thankful that we have this going up and it’s went up really fast. We didn’t know where we were going to be this time last year,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie says Fisty is home and thanks to two nonprofits, the Appalachia Service Project and Christian Appalachian Project, the Ritchies are able to rebuild at no cost to them.

“We provide these homes mortgage free to these families, so volunteer labor is an instrumental part of that,” said Walter Crouch, president of ASP.

Crouch said volunteers with ASP come from 35 states including as far as California. ASP and CAP are both based in eastern Kentucky, but this is the first time they’re working together.

CAP is using $250,000 in grant money to build 10 homes for families in Knott and Floyd Counties.

For families like the Ritchies, the work being done is a sense of hope, a blessing and a reason to dream about the future.

“I can’t wait to plant flowers and I can’t wait to put my window boxes up and my curtains and my little what-nots that I was able to find and cleanup,” Ritchie said.

A story of perseverance and survival that Della Ritchie says won’t keep her down.

“I survived for a reason, my family survived for a reason and the water, it came and took everything we had, but it didn’t take our spirit, our love for life,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie says there are still many others in eastern Kentucky in need. She hopes anyone that might see her story would consider donating to a nonprofit helping eastern Kentucky flood relief.

Related Stories