Approximately nine inches of rain fell in Kentucky, beginning on Friday, Feb. 14, causing at least 14 deaths. One flood-related death has been recorded in Georgia.
At least eight inches of rain fell in Tennessee and five in Virginia, causing widespread flooding. Several rivers overflowed as snow melt added to the excessive rainfall. In addition to flooding, landslides occurred, destroying homes and blocking roads. More than 300 roads were closed in Eastern Kentucky, and hundreds of people have been displaced from their homes.
At the height of the storms, thousands of customers had lost power across several states. As of Feb. 18, only 15,000 customers were without power in the region.
A polar vortex has caused a sharp drop in temperature, and a major winter storm is expected to arrive in the coming days, which could complicate flood response efforts.
Key facts:
- The flooding prompted evacuations in Rives, Tennessee, after a levee failed, destroying homes and buildings.
- More than 1,000 people had to be rescued when rain caused rivers to spill from their banks and snow on the ground melted, contributing to the deluge.
- Kentucky is especially prone to flooding because the region’s moist, thin soil type can’t absorb the increasing amount of snow and rain falling from climate change-induced storms, which leads to bodies of water overflowing and flat areas becoming saturated and pooling.
- Many places haven’t yet recovered from Hurricane Helene, compounding the effects of this disaster.
(Photo: The Kentucky National Guard prepares to land at a housing complex surrounded by floodwaters in Martin County, Kentucky, Feb. 17, 2025, to evacuate stranded residents. Credit: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ben Cole)
Latest Updates
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, February 17
Rural communities
Rural communities, like many affected by these floods, often don’t have the systems, structures and resources to manage a full and equitable recovery. Philanthropy has an opportunity to listen to and work with communities to fully understand their long-term needs, address them, and prepare these communities for future climate-caused disasters.
Appalachia region
According to the Appalachian Regional Commission, “Appalachia is made up of 423 counties across 13 states and spans 206,000 square miles, from southern New York to northern Mississippi. The Region’s 26 million residents live in parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and all of West Virginia.”
As CDP has reported many times, the ability of a community to respond is often based on pre-existing factors, such as poverty. Appalachia is one of the poorest regions in the country, and the areas affected by flooding reflect that.
As a result of pre-existing poverty, levels of insurance are low, food insecurity is high, and many homes were likely in poor conditions before the floods. One of the main industries in Appalachia is the prison system.
According to a study in 2021 from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, “In Kentucky, systemic barriers have led to higher rates of poverty and food insecurity than in other states, a low median household income and economic disparities by race, gender, geography and more.”
As of November 2024, 586,513 people in Kentucky relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food support.
Referencing Hurricane Helene, Ryan Eller, executive director of the Appalachia Funders Network, told Candid, “Appalachia receives a fraction of the philanthropic support other regions see, with funders in rural Central Appalachia having access to only one-tenth the resources of their urban counterparts. This disparity is all the more striking considering the magnitude of challenges here, even before the storm—broadband, health care, and food deserts; intergenerational poverty born from extraction; and the ongoing opioid crisis.”
Unrestricted cash donations
A critical ongoing need will be unrestricted cash donations to support affected families. Direct cash assistance can allow families to secure emergency housing, purchase items and contract services locally that address their multiple needs. It gives each family flexibility and choice, ensuring that support is relevant, cost-effective and timely. Cash assistance can also help move families faster toward rebuilding their lives.
Immediate needs
Those whose homes were damaged need immediate support with food/nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), mental and physical health, restoration of livelihoods and shelter, and essential household items. Continued access to education for children and the protection of vulnerable individuals are also priority concerns.
Early recovery phase
Several areas of ongoing support are needed in the early recovery phase. These include repair of damages (including tarping roofs), debris clean-up, soil remediation, temporary housing, physical and mental health, agricultural support, and livelihood/income support.
Emotional health and counseling
There will be a need for long-term mental health and trauma support, given the tight-knit community and the extent of the disaster. However, many people in these communities may be reluctant to seek support, which means it needs to be based locally within traditional support services, such as faith communities.
Our Disaster Recovery Fund provides support for flood-affected communities. Grants will be focused on supporting just, equitable and responsible recovery with special priority given to communities and populations that have been historically marginalized or have had difficulty recovering from past disasters.
Contact CDP
Philanthropic contributions
If you have questions about donating to the CDP Disaster Recovery Fund, need help with your disaster-giving strategy, or want to share how you’re responding to this disasters, please contact our development team.
(Photo: Flooding in Kentucky, Feb. 15, 2025. Credit: Kentucky State Police via X)
Recovery updates
If you are a responding NGO or a donor, please send updates on how you are working on recovery from this disaster to Katie Huang.
We welcome the republication of our content. Please credit the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
More ways to help
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy and National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters can provide resources and guidance about organizations working in affected communities. Local community foundations also have insights into nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that are best suited to respond in a particular community. Use the Council on Foundation’s Community Foundation Locator to find local community foundations.
Note: If you are an individual who was affected by the disaster, we encourage you to contact your local 211 to see what resources are available in your community.
Resources
Rural Populations
Rural populations often struggle with disaster response and recovery. Explore why.
Floods
Flooding is our nation’s most common natural disaster. Regardless of whether a lake, river or ocean is actually in view, everyone is at some risk of flooding. Flash floods, tropical storms, increased urbanization and the failing of infrastructure such as dams and levees all play a part — and cause millions (sometimes billions) of dollars in damage across the U.S. each year.
Climate Change
Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. In other words, climate change includes major changes in temperature, precipitation or wind patterns, among other effects, that occur over several decades or longer.