Jaw-Dropping Flood Damage and the Fight to Rebuild in Hurley, Virginia
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Jaw-Dropping Flood Damage and the Fight to Rebuild By the Resilient People of Hurley, Virginia
It was heartbreaking and sobering to see the damage caused by severe flooding in Hurley, Virginia. More than 40 homes were destroyed and 30 others damaged, impacting approximately 1,000 people. Several months after the flood, the resilient people of Hurley are still working to rebuild their community.
There has been a LOT of local and community support as people have stepped up across the region to help their fellow men and women of Appalachia in their hour of need. It is inspiring to see how folks still have that type of helping heart these days.
Conversely, federal assistance has been sadly lacking to date. The folks at FEMA didn't deem the damage as enough to warrant assistance for the individuals impacted, saying the disaster "lacked severity and magnitude."
Virginia recently included $11.4 million in the House budget to provide assistance to Hurley residents. Major kudos to Delegate Will Morefield for helping to push that through.
The relief can't come soon enough for those folks still impacted on a daily basis. Feel free to share this video to show what FEMA thinks isn't severe damage. - Shane
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Been in one flood it is not a good feeling, hope they all get the help they need.... Hope they never give up!!!!
You guys are actually helping by showing the devastation.
Thank you. We really wanted to bring awareness. We were blown away ourselves. - Melody
@@realappalachia yes Ma'am that is disgraceful that our government refused to help good citizens based simply on the location.
Thank you Shane and Melody. This is important to show. Melody, you nailed it when you said 'they'll use up our resources and people but no help when this happens'. Sad and true.
Thank you Robin! - Melody
I grew up in Hurley praying 🙏🏻
God bless the precious people in Hurley and nearby areas.
It is sad how our little community get no Recognition of our devastations like big towns do. Thank y’all for sharing 🙏🏻
Speechless.
I was not aware of this.
Prayers to all involved.
I should've waited till the end to comment. Fema took their sweet time helping all of us up here in Jersey after Sandy in 2012. Some got help, some got none. Some dirtbag contractors took people's rebuild money and took off with it. Now, nearly 10 years later, there are still empty lots where houses were never rebuilt
Praying for the people, Thank you for sharing.
My memories of the floods and FEMA certainly changed life for generations and brought challenges that brought neighbors and families together like no other place we've lived since 1977. May God bring many blessings
Melody and Shane you guys are so right . So, , devastating 😢💔 and for our government to turn their back on a state in the USA . Shame on them . Your right they will help the rich and their own kind . Sad so sad .. I feel so bad for all those folks . It breaks my heart and the video made me cry and mad . Prayers sent up to all those that was affected by these devastating flood 🙏 . Thank you Shane and Melody showing us these video if not o would of never heard of it . Do you know of any where we can send donations to ?
I have no words. Wow doesn't even do it. I appreciate you guys making us aware. It is nice that our State Government came through with some assistance. I just hope it is used in the best possible way for the citizens of the community. Nice we can always depend on our federal government.....NOT. Thank you again. Stay safe and stay healthy.
Thank you so much.
U guys r great keep showing real 🇺🇸
Thanks for making us aware. Here's what I think is a good idea. Let's setup a way to donate.
Reminds me of the 2016 flood here in Richwood WV. Destroyed the entire town. People clung to trees as their houses, pets, and belongings washed away. It was a nightmare. Some didn’t make it. Of course the politicians stole all the funds from FEMA. But a lot of kind people came from all over to help us, which was so awesome. Now we are still recovering and rebuilding.
That is so heartbreaking, Jean. It is inspiring how the communities really pull together though. Our prayers are with Richwood also! - Melody
I can’t believe we never hear of these places. I had no idea that devastation like that gets no relief from our govt.
That was horrible. I remember seeing it on the news.
Some of them are always taking the funds. They need to ask the Europeans to show them how to build ghauts which send the waters down into one channel.
I feel sorry for those people and especially those who couldn't afford insurance to rebuild.
I grew up in the mountains of western north Carolina and my dad built our house on a hill with lots of trees and ground cover, overlooking the river, every few years the river use to flood and damage many houses built in the river bottom , flood plain.....ever since I have been an adult, that picture has stayed in my mind of seeing that raging river and I have lived on a hill with plenty of trees and grass at every home I have owned ....thoughts and prayers for the people of that area ....😢🙏
Thanks for sharing! God bless the folks of Hurley and everyone affected by this flood!
Thanks for bringing attention to these peoples problems andthe theBruins help theyare need. Hope Gov. Youngkin responds to these issues. Thanks for the video
Spell check turned my last comment into a sports report, sorry about that, but thank you for showing me this huge emergency thats being ignored by the Goverment.
Can't believe this no help, watching from the uk
This video was really hard to watch. It took at least three times to get through. Prayer coming their way from Frankfort, Kentucky!
Melody, you're so right about ( stripping anything of value). Them wonderful hard working people of Hurley deserve help from our government and then some!!!!! We as a government go to other countries, tear them up and spend billions to rebuild often times far better than before. So horribly pitiful!!!!! I don't have anything else to say about this,. You two are a blessing.
Although I live in KY now Jean Walker, I remember the flood in Richwood, WV as well as small towns around Charleston. I got caught in the storm in Charleston. But, I remember that Richwood was almost destroyed. Years ago, when I was growing up in WV, I remember a terrible flash flood that came through Cabin Creek. It was a shock for many residents. There was no FEMA in those days. The only help available was from kind people from around the state that sent food, water, clothing, and other needed items. Flash flooding is nearly as bad as the tornado that hit Mayfield and other areas of KY. Great video Shane and Melody. To see such damage is heart breaking. Safe travels to you both.
I truly don’t believe that they think we are stupid and we are not worth the money and help,because we are already forgotten.God bless and safe travels.
THANK YOU JOE MANSION.
Joe Manchin is in West Virginia. This is in Virginia and Youngkin is our new Governor.
I'm in Texas but mom's family are in Floyd County Kentucky. That's one thing I always noticed was all of the home built next to creeks and rivers. I've seen flooding in KY. I pray for all these families and we can send money to Haiti and Jamaica but leave our own people homeless.
I lived there for 11 years it’s really poor county sad to see my hometown get destroyed like that
My daughter is disabled and we desperately need help with our yard and bridge. It's mentally hard to drive through the creek day after day, knowing we can't afford to fix it back. But also knowing it's a must. I'm thankful that we didn't loose everything and that we came out with only bangs and bruises physically. But the mental trauma it's left in my daughter's head will never go away. Even though she couldn't see it, she realizes how bad it was for us and our community.
So sorry. Poor baby 🙏🏻
Thanks
Mass phone calls and letters need to be sent to FEMA! GET NEWS AGENCIES INVOLVED!
Disappointingly, news agencies are not friends of the common folk. Real people need to literally knock on the physical doors of FEMA regional hierarchy. If they deny, refuse their presence in the town, stand strong and tell all neighbors DO NOT 'DONATE' BLOOD ever again if they refuse to rebuild homes. Bar them from convention centers, community awareness fundraisers and health department programs. How about FEMA gets nothing until your community is full RE ESTABLISHED and when people's losses are accounted for.
Believe me I'm with you! FLOOD them with calls and letters.
Big exposure tonight on NBC national news with Lester Holt on how FEMA has denied 40% of requests as they are too small or not enough damage when they feel local government should cover costs. However, they brought out that these towns are impoverished to begin with and there is no local government money.
I grew up around Hurley Virginia ( In Pawpaw ) and back in the 70's my Aunt died in a flood there. flooding has destroyed town many times. brings back memories! used to pass Guesses Fork Rd there on the way to school every morning.
Melody total side note, on your Mommas yearbook, you can buy old yearbooks online. There is a company who makes them so how and go back quite a ways. Had an old girl I knew who found them and bought her Dads yearbook that was lost and that would be a killer Mothers day gift. Of course none of the sentimental writings but all there. Hope it helps.
I think that the reason that there was no federal declaration of emergency necessary for FEMA to come to this place with help, is just part of the larger degree of neglect for Appalachia by the powers that be at the federal and even state levels that goes back decades, by both political parties. The sad fact is, that most of Appalachia is among a number of places in our nation that to those in power, are "throw away places" with "throw away people." I know this is a rather cynical take on the matter but I have no doubt is true, Don't look at or listen to the words of the politicians and bureaucrats, look at their actions.
Im crying with you guys and if these ppl were turned down for assistance then this world is in more trouble than i thought im on UA-cam they should have had boots on the ground so im praying for these ppl and if i were a movie star or had funds i would help....
Wouldn't have known anything about this if you hadn't covered it. I hope it creates some awareness. But reminds me of what a friend's mother used to say to us when we were kids: "Build on high ground!"
this is so frustrating to see. mangled cars and homes and debri everywhere..
as much money as the government wastes on nonsense, they outta be ashamed of themselves for denying these folks help..
May God bless the sweet people of Hurley. yall are in my prayers and if anyone knows of a givesendgo, please share the link.
thanks melody and shane for sharing this. i otherwise wouldve never known about this disaster.
Our feds have no shame and are worthless leeches.
The Governor has to first declare a state of emergency and request federal funding.
I’m from the area, and have lived through the 77 flood in Grundy. We learned the hard way you have to carry insurance in as much as possible living in the high risk areas to to rebuild after the inevitable floods and mudslides.
Very sad to see this damage. So many families displaced and going through trama. We get flooding in New Hampshire, but not to this extent. We built our cottage on a rise in the woods to avoid getting washed out in the spring by the near by brook. We were fortunate to have a choice on where to situate the house. Thank you for bringing this to people's attention.
Yes Sharing This On My Facebook ( Lot Of Friends & Family ) Your Welcome !
My father grew up in a coal mining town, washed away by a flood, in the hills of Kentucky. The point you make about people coming together in crisis is very true of his family, now living all over the US, but converging together during family crisis. Indiana communities (tornados, floods) do that too….many hail from Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.
Back watching some of your videos. I have a house in Highland County, VA and love visiting other places, via your channel. After the Lahaina debacle I can say the reason FEMA didn't help Hurley is obvious. There are no luxury hotels there! So sad but seems to be true.
I watched this on TV and it was so sad. Those folks are still suffering from that bad storm & flood. I watched a girl video from the Dollar General & the water was rushing into the parking lot tearing it up & she showed a home sliding across the road. She couldn't get out to get home & neither could the employees. I think it started coming into the store & some of them ended up crawling up on the belts at the cash register. It was so scary watching that & listen to her talk to family about not being able to come home. Pray God will help them. Y'all stay safe!
i donated $100 at food city to help these great people i wish them the best from my heart
That’s fantastic, I know those good folks will appreciate it
Can't believe all that damage, that's so sad.
Prayers 🙏💔
So sad my friends thanks for video
My wife’s family lost their home and belongings to the flood in Mingo County in “77. My family lost their business and nearly my mom’s life in the same flood. FEMA was slow but they were there. Don’t let anybody kid you, there was a lot of politics involved in the recovery. Write your congressman, senators and governor. As someone else stated earlier, the squeaking wheel gets the grease. Keep up the pressure!
Sounds like you and your wife's families both took some terrible blows during that time. It is sad that help doesnt come more quickly.
Was the heavy rain and flooding relatively isolated to a small area? I rode much of the KY/WV/VA tri-border area on my motorcycle back in late September and I don't recall seeing anything indicative of flood damage like this. I love that area and love your channel.
Same I didn't even hear about the flood down there, I wonder when it was???
In March 2021 there was heavy widespread severe flooding in parts of Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennneesee. At the time there was no note of that by national media. It was just considered "normal spring flooding."
@@michaelgarrity6090 That's pathetic but no real surprise. The media and the ruling class (but I'm repeating myself) hate the rural areas.
Add Hurley to a long list of Appalachian communities that have suffered catastrophic flooding. Mullens, Williamson, Welch, Iaeger, Pikeville, and anywhere along the Tug Fork, the Big Sandy, and their tributaries. It doesn't seem to matter what administration is in power both federal and state. Nothing seems to get done. I only lived in West Virginia for just about a year back in 77-78, I've had a deep feeling for the people that have lived down there and still do.
You're right on the money
I didn't even know that this happened. I cannot believe FEMA did not take this disaster area seriously. Hopefully, they will look at this again. Prayers for these resilient people!
The Appalachian people should never be overlooked! I feel this video should be sent to Washington, so that they can see the truth. It is so heartbreaking to see so little done after so much time has passed.
Hurley stuff. I'm thinking about moving back down to Lebanon
Good job watching
Very sad. prayers for them.
It's sad no one will help like you said this was rich they be right there
Such a beautiful creek, but it must have been turned into a deadly torrent and it is heartbreaking to think about Fema deciding this area is unworthy of help!! It is so unjust, cold, and criminal really.😢💔
We need to keep praying for these people. Maybe FEMA can do without our tax money.
It's not like we have a competent president to declare this a state of emergency. Just saying. I'm ashamed of our Government to turn their back on these people. So sad.
When Melody said "per capita", it made me think that FEMA only helps out, where "preferred potential voters" are residing.
I was wondering about that. Or high taxes.
Hey, I'm heading out that direction next week, any first time recommendations for hidden gems like Hinton WV?
Unfortunately this seems to be an all too uncommon theme in our country any more
Back in 1989, Hurricane Hugo cut power for 9 months. More recently, some parts of Puerto Rico are STILL without power years after Hurricane Maria. I can relate to this.
I know floods are bad in those areas, especially in the hollers. I see that Hurley is not too far from Grundy.
Seeing widespread destruction in pictures is different than seeing it in person. I saw the damage from the Joplin tornado in both ways and one is different than the other.
My heart cryes for them Oct 10 2018 hurricane micharl distroyed this area I almost lost my house to wind damage took two years to getvavfoof still have a lot of water damage an lot of trees down an Im still haveing to clean up an repair a little at a time by my self I really hurt an cry for those people it's a long slow prosses but they will slowly get there we are slowly pergressing HANG ON MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU PLEASE GOD BLRSS THESECPROPLE
I live in McDowell county and have seen some devastating floods. But I've seen FEMA show up when there was MUCH less devastation than this. I've mentioned on other sites that I believe this is a politically motivated decision. Even though VA went for Biden, we all know the southwestern part didn't. And it's also coal country, and we know how this ignorant administration feels about that! Everybody in Hurley please stay strong! Praying for y'all! Thanks guys for a eye opening video!
There is much more to the back story of severe flooding in the coal fields of Appalachia. Climate change has contributed to the increased severity of storms and subsequent flood damage. Poor mining techniques and land reclamation from strip mining, holding ponds, mountain top removal etc have put every community at risk. Out of state coal corporations took resources and money from the region and even the weak governmental policies and regulations for water quality, land management etc were not enforced. Politicians at all levels of government catered to the companies and failed to look at the long term future needs . FEMA doesn’t look at total loss or devastation and how it sets a family back financially. There objective is to provide “emergency assistance” to meet immediate needs. They look at whether a homeowner had insurance , income and resources, total loss value etc. FEMA funds were never intended to rebuild and replace communities destroyed by natural disasters. In many communities that suffer loss from floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires etc, it is the people , volunteers, charities, individual donations etc that actually rebuild the communities. For instance, Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005 and people in New Orleans and other areas heavily affected by Katrina have not fully recovered in 2022…17 years later. Over 100 years ago when the coal industry became a vital economic base for the region, no one was looking at the environmental impact of resource extraction and by 1972 when the Environmental Protection Act was passed and the EPA was established many industries including the coal, chemical, and timber industries fought regulations because it affected their profits. Hurley is a small community in a county with few resources but very resilient people. My hope is that the 11million dollars from the Commonwealth of Virginia is used wisely to assure that everyone affected by the recent flooding is able to secure liveable accessible housing with water, sewer and other amenities. The community may also need to look at how it builds back and how to build back to minimize flooding risks. How can volunteer resources outside the county be tapped to help and can the Army Corp of Engineers be utilized to dredge creek beds and create rap rock, concrete or other barriers to divert streams away from residential areas. Do the agencies responsible for land reclamation and abandoned mines need to review the potential threat of these areas to increased flood damage when there is heavy rainfall. Thank you Melody and Shane for shining a light on the tough road to recovery that the people of Hurley face.
Right on.
So sad. I live in pike county, Ky which is adjacent to Hurley.
How are you doing after all the tornados?
@@samanthab1923 I live in eastern Kentucky. The tornadoes mainly hit western. But very sad situation
@@chris2fur401 Thank God. Never saw such utter devastation. Take care 🙏🏻
@@samanthab1923 My friends from that area say it was terrible. Thanks for asking!
@@chris2fur401 No problem send prayers 🙏🏻
I saw a Chevy Chevette about 3 1/2 minutes in. All those turds rotted out up here decades ago
Let me tell you why they usually build their bridges with wood. 1, there plenty of it around. 2, you never know how the river will react and how strong it will be. So a couple thousand in wood is more attainable than steel which cost twice as much. It's a cost thing 😕
Unfortunately, Appalachia suffers from politically unpopular demographics.
Our country was built on the backs of the Appalachia people and this is how they treat us! Is there anybody that would know how to do a go fund me page? I reckon then you’d have to figure out distribution of the resources… thanks for the report Good bless….. Jesse
on my phone the video ok but on my TV which is high definition it looked kind of blurry it didn't look very clear. I wish there was a better picture of this.
Shut up
thats terrible
I live kind of around this area, the flood when it happened just came all at once. Thankfully though I'm not close enough to have been affected by it at all. Though that road does not and likely never will look the same.
Last August here in woodhull ny we had a massive flood one life lost millions in damage, up the road jasper school was destroyed, every building downtown and every house along tuscarora creek got flooded we had 4feet in our home if it wasn’t for the fact our house is made of hardwood floor to ceiling, and stone on the outside our house would of went down the creek like many of our Neighbors houses did. Our home had about 35 thousand in damage and lost stuff. And of Course fema gave us the finger. I’m a past fire chief and have helped many times during flooding and never had it happen to me till last summer and let me tell ya anytime I know it’s more then sprinkling it gives me the worst anxiety
Sorry to hear you’ve dealt with that, Christopher, so frustrating to have to endure such a blow then have the government turn their backs on you
To add to the insult my family is one of the largest property owners in this town of 55 sq miles, this farm pays a lot to the town and county for taxes like you would expect if you owned close to 1800 acres. No help from fema, but we did get help from friends and family, and at least we didn’t loose any cows or any of our other animals or equipment, we had no damage to our barns or the other houses on the farm just ours. We are lucky to have four generations still living here on the farm and three houses here and ours was the only one on the farm that got flooded. We are back living in it but we will definitely be working on this place for probably another year or so
sad to see this
Shane/Melody, your video was in March. Do things look much different today?
That seems like so many more than 70 homes. So sad.
What can you do??? VOTE thanks
I am perplexed; so many houses built so close to the river bed. Am I missing something, or is flooding EXTREMELY rare?
Most of the housing was built way back in the days of having to fetch water, etc. so it was a matter of convenience with the obvious downside being exposure to flooding
@@realappalachia thank you for your reply.
Where do you all live?
Someone needs to build ghauts so that the waters can run down in one area away from the houses.
Sad Bad -- Marks Against The Government - The Problem Their SLOW
Is this something that happens every year/ or often ?
It's devastating to see so much destruction and real human catastrophe and suffering. Do you know what caused the flood ? Are they at risk of such a thing happening again ? There never was a good time for the ''people'' through history it seems.
It was just a flash flood that happens in the area sometimes. They are definitely at risk of having it happen again, sadly
@@realappalachia Thank you 🙂
Driving to fast can't see everything
Can't help to think the turn down is all political on the federal level due to who won the Virginia governor race. That is just my opinion. FEMA has always been very slow to respond to things that aren't in the national spotlight like hurricane Katrina, where the media is in their face and showing it to the country on a daily if not hourly basis. I hope these folks that don't have flood insurance can get some type of assistance. Maybe they can reach out to ministries. There are many Methodist and Baptist disaster ministries that will respond to help clean up and rebuild.
no sound :(
Your governor doesn't care
Video makes it look like your vision is skewed. Why don't you stop the car? It looks like it just rained.
No.. Shame on Hurley.. They keep building back closer to the creek time and time again flood after flood. Move away from the water ..
Interesting and sad... why do folks keep rebuilding in a flood zone, and have any expectations that flooding will not happen to them? This is not the first time 8 feet of water ran through the streets of Hurley. FEMA should have purchased their property long ago.
a lot of folks don't have options so they really have no choice bc it is what they own and can't afford to move plus it has been there home for years so they are emotionally attached
@@realappalachia . Really enjoy your videos. Am reminded of the times we traveled and camped in In WV state parks over the years. It is a beautiful state, no doubt, but I have always left with a deep sadness..observing the poverty...especially in the southern part of the state.. knowing this state leads America with the fewest college graduates, the highest % of opioid prescriptions, the most receiving social security disability, a leader in opioid deaths, lowest labor participation rate in the US - knowing the doors of opportunity with never open for many (if not most) in this beautiful place called West Virginia. America will look back and appreciate what you and Melody are documenting. Keep up the good work...
@@pouledu6270 thank you so much
They send billions to help overseas but not their own backyard
Yep
Weather warfare from own federal govt. Agencies, or otherwise Is sickening. Geoengineering is has been going on and ramping up, everywhere. It is not natural it is evil.
Be the sqeeky wheel.
Amen Dee
Unfortunately, I wouldn't expect too much from "Let's Go Brandon's" FEMA.
Please tell me what the other political party did to help. I'll wait.
Hurley is dirty
I wonder if it's at least partially because Joe Manchin wouldn't support Brandon's policies.
WAS ALL OF THIS UNDER WATER?