On July 28, 2022, 45 citizens in Eastern Kentucky died and 14,000 homes were flooded after a
massive rainstorm fell in the Appalachian mountains. The flooding continued for five days dropping more than fourteen inches of rain.

Within 72 hours, two advance response team members traveled to the area and immediately began our Community Caretaking program, cleaning out debris and mud left from flood waters. This initial action was critical as mold begins to grow very quickly after the flooding subsides.

Three days later, CEO & Founder, Rob Gaudet, joined them and set up SAFE Camp. Members of the community began flooding in, desperately needing water, food, and supplies. Almost daily semitruck loads of donations were received and almost as soon as they arrived, they were distributed to survivors. Many bridges and culverts remained broken or washed out for weeks. Team members often loaded their vehicles to the brim with donations and drove out to these remote areas, providing critical supplies and sustenance to those who were stranded.

Community Caretaking continued during this time. After a flood, houses are left with a toxic sludge consisting of mud, sewage, chemicals, and debris often over a foot high on each floor that is flooded. Removal of this muck is tedious. Personal protective equipment must be worn, including respirators and boots. Inch by inch is shoveled into buckets which are then taken outside and dumped. Once the much is removed, homes must be stripped of any material that touched flood waters. Carpet and flooring, sheetrock, and insulation must be removed from each room. It’s tiring work.

In addition to our incredible followers who answered the call to volunteer, Cajun Navy Ground Force received our first AmeriCorps NCCC team to join in the effort. National Civilian Community Corps, or AmeriCorps NCCC, is an AmeriCorps program that engages 18- to 24-year-olds in team-based national and community service in the United States. These young adults worked tirelessly with our team for two weeks mucking and gutting homes.

Sometimes the home can’t be salvaged. Larry Adams had watched from the second floor of his flooded house as his great niece, Chloe, swam from her neighboring home to his shed’s roof with her dog floating in a clear plastic bin. She made it to the roof but rising flood waters threatened to engulf her again as Larry watched on, ready to attempt swimming to save her. She was saved by Larry’s grandson who arrived in a kayak to check on his grandfather. Chloe was rescued in the kayak and taken to ride out the remaining disaster in Larry’s home. Once the waters receded, Larry faced the reality that his home was too damaged to save. Two other homes on the property, including Chloe’s, was salvageable. Larry began working 12-hour days to assist them in their recovery. When we discovered Larry’s selflessness and the need his family was in, we jumped into action. In addition to adding manpower to his recovery efforts, we used our extensive social media network to get a mobile home donated to Larry and moved onto his family’s homestead.

Cajun Navy Ground Force, through an Eastern Kentucky Community Employment Program workforce grant, has been able to remain in Kentucky, helping in multiple counties and communities. With a budget of 80k per month, we were able to hire a Ground Force Crew and Case Managers all displaced by the flooding to work together to assist their neighbors in need.

Kentucky Ground Crew Numbers as of August 1, 2023
129 Muck and Guts
2 Complete Guts and Rebuild
2 Roofs Tarped
20 Mold Remediation (sprayed under homes)
4 Homes Pressure Washed
6 New Porches
4 Wheelchair Ramps
5 New Steps
6 Handrail Replacements
4 Businesses Repaired (including complete gutting and rebuild and pressure washing)
50 Homes Repaired(including installing doors, bead board, shingles, patched holes in roofs, installed sub-floor, laminate flooring, hung drywall, paneling, and trim, painted, installed toilets and bathtubs)

Kentucky Case Management Numbers as of August 1, 2023
Special thanks to our many Community Resources that assist in helping us to get these much needed items and services to our elderly and vulnerable flood survivors. ICAN Services, Thankful Hearts, Pike County Relief Services, Letcher County Distribution Center aka Brandon Truck Parts.