Throughout the mountains, floods have long shaped people’s lives. Yet as extreme weather becomes more frequent, traditional tools for understanding flood risk no longer tell the whole story. Communities across the region are experiencing impacts that simply don’t appear on official maps. That gap makes planning, preparation, safely locating and equipping resilience hubs, and recovery even more challenging.
A new citizen-science flood‑mapping project in Floyd County, Kentucky is changing that. By combining historic topographic maps with information gathered directly from residents, the project is building a more accurate picture of how foods impact people. The unique topography of Eastern Kentucky means that every hollow, ridge, and creek reacts differently during extreme weather. For example, people know where the water first crossed their roads, which neighbors needed help, where people gathered when cell service went down, which culverts became blocked, etc., and their insights must guide decisions about prevention, mitigation, and long‑term recovery.
Organized by local leaders and facilitated by Ohio University and Mountain Association, this work matters not only because of economic losses, but because accurate, community‑generated information strengthens resilience. While Ohio University works on flood mapping, Mountain Association is helping create a plan for a network of resilience hubs throughout the county.
Ohio University student Chloe Partlow is leading the flooding research as part of a capstone project under the supervision of Dr. Natalie Kruse Daniels.
“Traditional flood maps rely heavily on historical data,” Chloe explained. “But the baseline is shifting. Residents see flooding that never shows up on those maps, and that information is critical for planning.”
Three public meetings were held recently where residents and groups involved in recovery, like Saint Vincent Mission, Frontier Housing and the Red Cross, could share their knowledge.
How It Works
Residents were invited to participate whether they were directly flooded or indirectly affected. Someone whose home didn’t take on water might still have been isolated by road closures, unable to access food or medical care. Others may have lost power, communications, or safe routes to check on neighbors. Others may have provided assistance, like food, shelter, and access to power.
Using a series of stickers categorized by type, like Flood, Transportation Blockage, Power Outage, Communication Outage, Trapped Residents, Shelter, Medical, Supplies, Volunteers, Charging Stations, and Alternative Routes, participants placed markers on area maps. Now, these are being integrated into a GIS system, creating a layered, community‑built map of flood impacts and assets.
Some attendees initially felt they had little to contribute, but that quickly changed as they got into the activities.
“Once people located their homes on the map and explored the different categories of flood-related impacts, they realized how much local knowledge they held,” Andrea Muñoz, Outreach Specialist for the Mountain Association said. “Some expressed that, for the first time, they felt heard and truly involved in shaping solutions for their community.”
Mapping Across Eastern Kentucky
Floyd County community leaders like Missy Allen of the Fiscal Court know that future plans for the county would be stronger if they are rooted in community knowledge. With volunteer support from a locally based consultant, Ruthie Caldwell, they pursued grant funding to help guide this work and received a Climate Smart Communities Initiative grant to make it happen. This will result in a comprehensive housing study, flood mitigation plan, and a resilience hub plan in the county.
“People aren’t just talking about the damage. They’re imagining what their community could look like in the future. Solutions work best when they come from those local priorities,” Chloe said.
Applications for this grant program are open until March 12. These CSCI grants can help small and midsize communities at any step in the planning process. Awards include funding, training, and technical support. Ranging from $75,000-$115,000 per award, funds can be used over a twelve-month period to advance activities ranging from risk assessments and community engagement to project prioritization and implementation.
To be eligible for consideration, the community must be in the U.S. and facing significant climate-related challenges based on environmental and socioeconomic considerations. Three partners are required to apply together:
- a community-based organization
- a local, regional or Tribal government partner
- a qualified climate adaptation practitioner listed in the Registry of Adaptation Practitioners
The Mountain Association is part of the Central Appalachian Network’s Community Resilience Working Group, which is a qualified adaptation practitioner and part of the Registry of Adaptation Practitioners. If you are interested in learning more, contact Betsy Whaley with the Mountain Association at betsy@mtassociation.org.
For more details, including benefits, program requirements, and to complete an application, visit climatesmartcommunity.org/funding.
