SLADE, Ky. (FOX 56) – Clean-up in eastern Kentucky continues following the flooding in late July wreaked havoc on the region.
Organizations, businesses, and individuals have stepped up to help from across Kentucky as well as across the United States.
Sunday was no different for the folks at Thatcher BBQ and the Pit House in Slade.
Owners there put on a benefit concert to raise money for flood victims, a cause they have personal ties to.
“We live in this Mt. Carmel, War Creek area of Breathitt County,” said Thatcher BBQ Co. Owner Shawn Thatcher. “We’ve lived there all our lives and the place was devastated. It was, some places just wiped off the map.”
Thatcher was unable to get to his home for five days during the floods, which took a toll mentally.
“It was nerve-racking,” Thatcher said. “A buddy of mine kind of lives on the other side of the ridge away from us. He was like I can fly my drone over there and I said I’d rather not know because what could I do if there was damage. I could do nothing but worry about it.”
For performers like Jeremy Short, eastern Kentucky is also home as he grew up in Jackson. He said he owes a lot to that community.
“All my memories of growing up are attached to it and becoming the person who I am today, it is because of where I am from,” Short said.
Other performers came from out of state, like Illinois native Lucas Wayne. Seeing the flood damage first-hand has been jarring he said.
“We drove through Jackson and there were just houses gone,” Wayne said. “He said look there, there used to be three or four houses right there and they were just leveled and that’s just devastating to me.”
Seeing support for a region some people may never visit, has been uplifting.
“You drive by some of these place that are taking donations,” Thatcher said. “There is literally semi-truck loads of water and different things that people need to get back on their feet and get to surviving again.”
This is a region that will rise to the challenge, and bounce back.
“They don’t sit around and cry,” said Wayne. “Hardworking people. It is where my grandpa came from. My great grandpa worked in these coal mines. Hardworking people you know. Hard work is what is going to put this state back together.”
In total, nine performers took the stage with all donations raised going to flood victims.
