Troublesome Rising: A Thousand-Year Flood in Eastern Kentucky

by Melissa Helton (Editor)

"The flood came at night, forcefully and quickly, destroying so many lives in its wake. Unfortunately, I'm afraid it will happen again and again."—Carter Sickels

In late July 2022, a catastrophic flash flood claimed the lives of more than forty people and devastated homes and communities in Central Appalachia. The forty-fifth annual Appalachian Writers' Workshop at Hindman Settlement School in eastern Kentucky was in progress when surging floodwater forced the participants and staff to rush to higher ground. The school lost classrooms, housing, and gathering areas, as well as valuable equipment, and irreplaceable artifacts such as historical books and documents, photographs, and handmade musical instruments from the school archives were damaged. As the floodwaters receded throughout the region, countless lives were forever changed.

In this visceral and powerful anthology, well-known and emerging Appalachian writers create an authentic space for processing and healing as they document and share the depth of the flood's devastation. Through words and images, Troublesome Rising reveals the writers' fears, desperation, sadness, and anger while detailing and examining the disaster's causes, the need for solutions, and how flooding has historically impacted the Appalachian community and culture. In a shared, varied, and resounding voice, this compelling collection not only serves as a historical document and an in-depth investigation of the event, but also as a celebration of Appalachian strength, determination, and resilience.

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2024

Reviews

[Holly Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the night of July 27-28, 2022, Troublesome Creek went from a 6 inch trickle to a 20 foot flash flood related to heavy rain and exacerbated by deforestation and mountaintop removal mining. The water tore through Hindman, KY, killing 17 in that county, and badly damaging the Hindman Settlement School. This anthology relates some of the experiences of those with connections to the school, both flood survivors and those who watched in horror from afar.

There are just too many natural disasters, especially those fueled by human behavior, and they all deserve to be remembered. This book provides an insight into being impacted by disaster and working toward recovery. It’s a vital chronicle of history and human experience.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes into the flood of July 2022 in the Appalachian Mountains, which claimed the lives of forty people and destroyed communities, homes, and so much more. There was also a writer’s workshop taking place the people there had to be moved to higher ground, but the settlement in Kentucky lost classrooms, buildings, and papers, many of the historical documents, books, and photographs. Just so many things, because many were also handmade and could not be replaced. This book is their story and the frustration at how the flooding in this area always happens, and nothing gets done. A good book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In late July 2022, a catastrophic flash flood claimed the lives of more than forty people and devastated homes and communities in Central Appalachia. The flood also impacted attendees at the forty-fifth annual Appalachian Writers' Workshop at Hindman Settlement School in eastern Kentucky. This book includes essays and poems by folks who were affected.
I liked the photos. They added dimension and humanity to the stories.
So many of the essays also brought to mind a recent flood. History does indeed repeat itself.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection of raw, emotional works. "Ain't no grave: a story" by Savannah Sipple was to me the best piece that captured the region and the cultural tension inherent to eastern Kentucky, with those tensions breaking open during a natural disaster. I'm grateful that those attending the Appalachian writer's workshop in 2022 chose to create this anthology to document the flood event as they experienced it.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout the stories, poetry, nonfiction narrative, and photography presented in this volume, the heartbreaking tragedy of the Eastern Kentucky flooding of July 2022 is unforgettably vivified and made indelible in memory. The members of the Appalachian Writers Workshop contributed their memories and experiences, and there also exists a website to collect additional input.

[Abigale Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book made me cry on so many days. I grew up in Appalachia in Ky. I had family that went over to places that were affected by these floods to help, and it all seems eerily similar to what has happened after Hurricane Milton and Helene. This book will take you through many perspectives and you will come out a new person.

[TA Inskeep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound and essential. Whether you know everything or nothing about the 2022 EKY floods, you need to read this anthology.

[Mikala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a timely and terrifying account of the major flooding that occurred in Kentucky, USA in 2023. It echos what happened to many of the communities in North Carolina, USA in 2024 - this is even where the author is from and I wonder if there are updated versions of the text that will be released to support the broader Appalachian region recovery.
This collection of memories, stories, poems and other happenings during the several days really highlight the diverse people and circumstances This area was not prone to flooding and was ill-prepared for it. The rain just started in the afternoon and didn't stop till towns, villages, buildings, homes, families and lives were wiped from the map entirely.
As I'm hearing more about the Western NC clean-up and recovery, I would have also liked to bear witness to some of the ongoing struggles from the community. How are they coping months later with the insurmountable devastation and restoration workload?