SERVICE
The Power of Water
Christian Appalachian Project Responds to Flooding in Johnson County
F
By Carol Stringer
or weeks we watched the sky each afternoon as the clouds rolled in and dumped unwanted rain on an already saturated earth. Gardeners everywhere gave up on vegetables and flowers; yards were overgrown with a lush but unmanageable carpet of grass; our lakes, rivers, and streams were at record highs, pushing massive volumes of muddy water through their courses. It was puzzling how common the thunderstorms became and how quickly we got used to them. Flash flood warnings started to feel mundane. Every day we continued to imagine a “normal” July (whatever that is for Kentucky), with clear skies and high heat. But water will not be ignored, and when it rains, it pours. It was on a Tuesday when we learned of the incredible flooding that had happened the previous evening in Johnson County, Ky. The destruction left behind in the wake of the torrent was difficult to believe, let alone comprehend. Cars overturned and washed into groves of trees; large houses swept off their foundations; mobile homes perched on top of cars and other debris — and these scenes were just the tip of the iceberg. The destructive hand of the floodwaters had ruined everything it touched, coating it with a reeking film of silt and sand. The filth was incredible; the destruction, intangible. The water had crumpled mobile homes like accordions, toppled trees, and eroded asphalt. The earth itself was the most telling, with entire hillsides washed away and creek beds sculpted into entirely new forms. The flash flood happened suddenly, with little
warning or precedent to suggest the severity of the situation. Many had been caught in the cross-hairs of the sweeping water before they even knew it was there. Later, after analyzing the situation, many suggested that up on the mountain a downed tree or debris had caused a blockage that ultimately gave way under pressure and dowsed the lower valley in one swift moving gush. The wave of water caused lightning-fast and insanely forceful destruction and claimed the lives of four individuals unable to escape.
Despite this incredible tragedy, one could witness incredible solidarity among both victims and volunteers as they worked together to reconstruct a sense of normalcy for the community of Flat Gap. The very geography of Appalachia lends itself to severe floods. With steep ravines, narrow valleys, abundant waterways, and rugged, mountainous terrain, it is easy to see how a swift storm can quickly cause damage. When water rushes down from the mountains and is funneled into the valleys with nowhere for the torrent to go, the valleys often fill faster than an open flood plain. Along with others, CAP’s Disaster Relief Program was ready to respond as part of the disaster cleanup almost immediately, but was prevented from entering the CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | FALL/WINTER 2015
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