(SOUND OF RAIN FALLING) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO RAIN... AND HEAVY THAT NIGHT.

>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, YOU WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND YOU THINK, RIGHTS GOING TO-- IT'S GOING TO FLOOD.

>> AS I WAS ON DUTY I GOT THE FIRST NATIONAL WEATHER ALERT OF AREA FLOODING.

I WAS LIKE, IS IT EVEN RAINING?

I'M GOING TO GO OVER HERE AND CHECK THE RIVER.

WE HAVE A RIVER GAUGE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING ON MAIN STREET.

I'LL GO CHECK THE RIVER.

WE HAVE 7 FEET OF WATER AT 2 A.M. ORDINARILY TWO FEET.

WE ARE AT 7 FEET.

>> I COULD HEAR IT RAGINGING AND MY OLD HOUSE HAD BEEN LEAKING A LITTLE BIT AND I HEARD IT START UP POURING.

I GOT UP AND SET BUCKETS AND PANS.

>> AFTER I HAD WENT UPSTAIRS, WE HEARD A BIG LOUD CRASH AGAINST THE HOUSE.

IT KIND OF FELT LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE.

THAT'S WHEN THE FOUNDATION BLEW OUT IN THE BACK OF THE HOME AND THEN THE WATER FILLED UP THE BASEMENT.

WE GOT ABOUT 10 AND A HALF FEET OF WATER IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES.

I MEAN IT WAS FAST.

IT CAME IN-- IT WAS LIKE OCEAN WAVES OUTSIDE.

>> PART OF THE STORY WAS I WAS MOVING OUT.

I WAS BUYING MY FIRST HOUSE AND SAVING FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

I TRIED TO BUY THIS HOUSE.

I GREW UP IN McROBERTS.

MY FAMILY GREW UP DOWN THE ROAD, MY SON GREW UP HERE FOR THREE YEARS AND I MADE A GOOD POST OF WHAT A GOOD HOME THIS HAD BEEN AND HOW IT HAD GOTTEN US THROUGH A PANDEMIC.

AND SO FINALLY, I ENDED UP FALL AGO SLEEP AROUND 2 AP.

WE HAD AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT GOING UPSTAIRS AND I WAS TIRED AND I FELL ASLEEP.

ABOUT 2:20, THE ALERTS KEPT COMING THROUGH ON THE PHONE.

MINE KEPT COMING THROUGH IN SPANISH SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.

>> IT CAME UP SO FAST, WE HAVE GOATS, CHICKENS, POT BELLY PIG.

WE LOST SIX GOATS.

WE LOST HALF OUR GOATS.

>> WE SAVED THE PIG.

>> THAT WAS PROBABLY A SIGHT TO SEE.

SHE IS WELL OVER 200 POUNDS.

CLOSER TO 300 PROBABLY.

WE FOLDED UP A TARP AND PUT IT UNDER HER BELLY AND EACH OF US GOT ON THE SIDE OF HER AND FLOATED HER OUT.

>> WE HAD TO FLOAT HER OUT.

I COULDN'T LET HER DROWN.

>> WE HAD TO TRY TO SAVE HER.

>> SHE WAS SITTING THERE WITH NOTHING BUT HER NOSE AND EYES AND EARS STICKING OUT OF THE WATER.

IT WAS PITIFUL.

I COULDN'T BEAR THAT.

>> I CHECKED AND OPENED THE BACK DOOR AND LOOKED OUT AND SAID OH MY GOD IN HEAVEN AND HE JUMPED UP AND SAID WHAT'S WRONG?

I SAID YOU BETTER COME LOOK.

AND WHEN HE LOOKED OUT THE DOOR, HE REALIZED THE WATER WAS ALREADY UP TO THE CAR PORT.

>> 25, 30 MINUTES IT JUST HAPPENED.

AND IT WAS EVERYTHING I COULD DO TO KEEP PIE FEET ON THE GROUND-- TO KEEP MY FEET ON THE GROUND.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF STORIES FROM FRIENDS OF THEIR FRIENDS, LEARNING ABOUT THE FLOOD WHEN THEY PUT THEIR FEET TO THE FLOOR AND THEIR LEGS ARE GETTING WET, YOU KNOW.

AND/OR WATER IS LAPPING THEIR ELBOW AGAINST THE BED.

I MEAN THAT'S... >> I WENT INTO HER HOUSE AS IT BEING CHEST DEEP.

SHE WAS ON THE COUCH.

IT WAS NECK DEEP TO HER SITTING ON THE COUCH.

I WAS ABLE TO FLOAT HER UP AND GOT HER RIGHT HERE AND I WAS LIKE, MAN, I COULDN'T GET HER OVER THERE.

SO ACTUALLY I JUST FOUND SOME ADRENALINE AND I JUST WAS ABLE TO PUT HER IN THAT AND SAID WE HAVE TO GO NOW.

I CANNOT SWIM.

>> HERE WHERE WE LIVE, THE WATER MIGHT RISE IN THE BACK IN THE CREEK IN THE BACK AND GET IN YOUR YARD, BUT WHEN I GOT UP, I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY HERE WHERE I LIVE ON AND IT WAS A RIVER.

THERE WAS NO ROAD.

>> FLOODS USED TO BE THAT IT WOULD RAIN REALLY HARD AND EVERYBODY WOULD GO TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND SLIP AROUND IN THE MUD.

THEN WOULD YOU COME HOME, GET WHOOPED BECAUSE YOU WERE ALL MUDDY, BUT THE WATER WOULD HAVE WENT BACK DOWN.

THIS WAS NOT LIKE THAT.

THIS WAS BAD.

TRUCKS FLOATED DOWN THE ROAD.

IT WAS A BAD DEAL.

THE WATER IN HERE CAME ALL THE WAY UP TO THIS.

SO THIS WHOLE HOUSE WAS BASICALLY FILLED WITH WATER.

THE WOMAN THAT LIVED HERE, SHE NEEDS A WALKER TO GET AROUND, AND SHE HELD ON TO THE TOP OF HER PORCH, FLOATING IN THE WATER FOR FIVE HOURS UNTIL SOMEBODY WAS ABLE TO COME AND RESCUE HER AND SHE IS IN HER LATE 70s.

>> ONE GUY IN PARTICULAR SAID YOU GO TO BED AND IT'S ALL THERE AND YOU GET UP THE NEXT MORNING AND IT'S ALL FLOATING AWAY.

>> BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER, I WANTED TO GET OUT AND PHOTOGRAPH WHAT I COULD.

I COULDN'T PHOTOGRAPH VERY MUCH.

BECAUSE I COULD ONLY GO ABOUT 100 YARDS OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY DOWN ROUTE 7 TOWARD HAZARD AND JUST SAW WHAT IT WAS.

I MEAN IT WAS MIND BLOWING.

>> ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS I SAW IS THERE IS A PINK MICKEY HOUSE CHILD-- MICKEY MOUSE CHILD'S BLANKET HANGING FROM A TREE RIGHT UP THE ROAD HERE.

SOME LITTLE CHILD SOMEWHERE ON UP TO THE KENTUCKY RIVER, THAT BELONGS TO THAT CHILD.

SO THAT WAS TOUGH.

SOME THINGS I DIDN'T PHOTOGRAPH THAT I SAW.

I COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO DO IT.

I ENDED UP MAKING PROBABLY ABOUT 2500 IMAGES TOTE TOTAL OF THE FLOOD.

SOME OF THE HARDEST PHOTOGRAPHS I'VE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE.

AND I'VE SEEN-- BEING A PHOTOJOURNALIST IN CINCINNATI, I'VE SEEN SOME GRUESOME THINGS BEFORE AND HAD TO PHOTOGRAPH SOME SAD THINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THIS HIT HOME.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.

THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY PLU ME AWAY WAS THE MGA.

>> WE GO OVER HIGHWAY 15 AND TURN ON 7 AND WHEN WE TURN DOWN ON 7, THE SHOPPING CENTER WAS IN A RIVER ACTUALLY.

IT WAS COVERED UP WITH MUDDY WATER.

EVEN THOUGH WERE YOU LOOKING AT IT, YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS TRUE.

I KNEW THEN THAT WE WERE IN TROUBLE.

>> GWEN IS A PILLAR IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SHE LIVES IN KNOCK COUNTY BUT WHAT SHE DOES FOR LETCHER COUNTY IS AMAZING.

AND TO SEE THE POWER OF THE FLOODWATERS.

EVERYBODY THINKS THE WATER JUST COMES UP AND GOES DOWN.

NO.

IT WAS LIKE GODZILLA AND KING KONG WENT IN THERE AND FOUGHT.

THE FREEZERS WERE RIPPED OFF THE WALLS AND PILED AND JUST SHELVES AND GROCERIES AND EVERYTHING WASHING TOWARD THE FRONT DOORS.

>> THE WATER WAS GOING IN LIKE A CIRCLE MOTION.

IT WAS LIKE A RIVER.

IT WAS NOT STILLWATER.

IT WAS MOVING WATER.

AND I WOULD LISTEN TO HIM ALL THE TIME AND HE TALKS ABOUT WHEN HE OPENED THE FRONT DOOR OF HIS HOUSE, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE OCEAN.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THE WATER SOUNDED.

WHEN I FIRST SEEN THE STORE, I WAS IN SHOCK, AND FOR ABOUT A WEEK, I ACTUALLY WALK ADD ROUND IN SHOCK.

DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO.

>> I THOUGHT THAT AFTER A FLOOD LIKE THIS, THERE WOULD BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THE GOVERNMENT COMES.

HI, I'M FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

I'M HERE TO HELP YOU.

BUT IT WAS A LEARNING PROCESS, WHERE EVENTUALLY, IT SET IN THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO HELP COMING.

AT LEAST NOT IN THAT FORM.

PEOPLE COMING AND DOING THIS BUSINESS OF MUCKING HOUSES OUT AND GETTING ALL OF THE THINGS OUT AND THEN GUTTING THE WALLS AND APPLYING, YOU KNOW, MOLD KILLER.

THAT WAS JUST US LEARNING AND WATCHING YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON HOW TO DO IT.

THAT IS A SHOCKING THING TO REALIZE THAT IT IS A RAG TAG GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS DOING IT.

>> JUST SEEING THE NEED.

THE NEED WAS JUST SO GRAND AND STILL IS.

IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING AND IT'S JUST HARD TO-- IT CAN BE HARD TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE WHICH HOUSE DO WE GO TO.

>> THAT'S REALLY WHAT IS SO DEVASTATING ABOUT THESE FLOODS.

THEY WERE SO EXTENSIVE.

THEY IMPACTED SO MANY WATERSHEDS , THAT FOR WEEKS AFTER THE FLOOD, YOU KNOW, MY DAD OR FAMILY WOULD BE ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEONE AND THEY WOULD REALIZE, OH, A LIFE LONG FRIEND, THEY GOT FLOODED TOO, BUT BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS BEEN JUST WORKING SO FAST AND SO HARD TO GET THINGS CLEANED UP, YOU COULDN'T CHECK IN LIKE YOU JUST COULDN'T CHECK IN WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS LIKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO.

>> YOU ARE PIECING TOGETHER A LIFE.

YOU ARE PIECING TOGETHER A CULTURE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE SAY IS HOW THEY'RE SO GREAT UNTIL AND THANKFUL THAT THEY DIDN'T LOSE THEIR LIFE OR A LOVED ONE.

MOST OF US AGREE THAT HUMAN LIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN TANGIBLE OBJECTS.

IT SHOULD BE REMINDED THAT TANGIBLE OBJECTS CONNECT US TO PEOPLE AND MEMORIES.

>> AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO HEAR, I CALL THEM THE HILLBILLY REFUGEES, THAT HAVE MOVED OUT OF HERE, THEY KNEW WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET ANY HELP FROM ANYBODY ELSE, AND THEY STARTED CALLING AND MESSAGING ON FACEBOOK.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN?

SEND ME PICTURES?

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

I WOULD TELL THEM THE BEST I COULD.

AND WHEN THE ROADS OPENED UP, THEY RODE IN HERE.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THE PEOPLE WERE WHO WERE SHOWING UP TO HELP ME OR IT WAS PEOPLE I NEVER EXPECTED TO SHOW UP AND HELP ME.

LIKE LITERALLY, PEOPLE WHO HAVE VERY OPENLY DISAGREED WITH ME ON POLITICS AND IT'S BECOME LIKE A LINE IN THE SAND FOR US THAT WE CAN'T TALK.

THEY WERE SHOWING UP AND UNLOADING MY STUFF.

I LITERALLY TURNED AROUND AT ONE POINT AND WHEN I BURST INTO TEARS, FOUR TEENAGERS I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THRI NAMES WERE, WALKED IN MY HOUSE AND STARTED PICKING THINGS UP AND MOVING IT OUT.

I BURST INTO TEARS BECAUSE I WAS SO OVERWHELMED THAT SO MUCH WAS TAKEN OFF OF ME IN THE MOMENT OF NOT HAVING TO DO IT ALL MYSELF.

>> WHILE WE WERE DOING THE CLEANUP CREWS, FOLKS WERE ALSO STILL COMING INTO OUR HEADQUARTERS TO GET SUPPLIES THAT WE HAD ON HAPPENED AND CASH OUT THE DOOR TO FOLKS WHO NEEDED IT.

IT WAS OBVIOUS FOLKS HAD DIFFICULTY IN ASKING FOR THAT HELP AND RECEIVING THAT HELP.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I LEARNED REAL QUICK WAS TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IT WAS NOT MY MONEY THAT I WAS GIVING TO PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT MADE PEOPLE MORE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE CASH.

ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT WAS JUST PEOPLE SAYING HOW ASHAMED THEY WERE.

AND THAT WAS REALLY HARD BECAUSE IT'S LIKE NOT THEIR FAULT.

THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THIS THAT IS THEIR FAULT.

THAT WAS REALLY HARD IN TRYING TO JUST ALLEVIATE THAT FEELING OF SHAME THAT PEOPLE FELT.

SO EVENTUALLY AFTER ABOUT TWO DAYS, THERE WAS A LOAD OF WATER CAME WITH SOME PAPER TOWELS AND TOILET TISSUE AND SOME PAPER PLATES.

YOU KNOW, I JUST CONTINUED TO COOK HERE BECAUSE WE HAD ELECTRICITY AND PEOPLE WERE COMING HERE AND GETTING HOT MEALS.

WE PUT OUT A CALL FOR THE FOUR WHEELERS TO COME AND THEY HAULED WHAT SUPPLIES WE COULD GET OUR HANDS ON OUT TO PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T GET OUT.

AND I NOTICED THAT THE ONES THAT HAVE LOST SO MUCH HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HELP EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> MY RESOURCES WERE MY CONNECTIONS OVER ALMOST 67 YEARS ON THIS EARTH.

WE'VE GOT 40,000 PEOPLE AROUND THE BORLD THAT SUBSCRIBE TO WHAT WE DO.

THAT'S A BIG AUDIENCE.

SO THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS COMPILE AN AMAZON WISH LIST.

AND EVERY DAY FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, UPS DESIGNATED A TRUCK WHOSE ONLY THING THEY HAD IT WAS TO COME TO THAT CHURCH.

I MEAN SOME ARE LITTLE ITEMS, SOME ARE BIG ITEMS AND THEY CAME.

ANYTHING WE ASKED FOR, THEY CAME.

ONE DAY I WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOD RELIEF AND I WAS DOWN THERE AND I WAS RIDING MY FOUR WHEELER AND TAKING THINGS TO PEOPLE AND WHATEVER I COULD DO.

I WAS DOWN THERE AT BLACKY ONE DAY AND THE MAGISTRATE'S WIFE CAILD ME OVER TO THE SIDE AND SAID IT'S OKAY, BUT WE THINK YOU ARE IN THE MOB.

[LAUGHTER] AND I SAID, NO, I'M NOT IN THE MOB.

I SAID I JUST HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS FRIENDS IN A LOT OF PLACES THAT WANT TO HELP.

>> WE HAD A LITTLE GoFundMe AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE MAKE DONATIONS OF $25 AND $50, BUT THEY WOULD ALWAYS MAKE A COMMENT THAT, IT WAS MY STORE WHEN I GREW UP.

IT'S GENERATIONAL.

THEY CAN REMEMBER GOOD TIMES.

I REMEMBER COMING IN, THEY WOULD GIVE ME A SUCKER.

OR I CAN REMEMBER COMING IN AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME A COOKIE SO IT'S JUST GOOD MEMORIES OF COMING SOMEWHERE WHERE SOMEONE CARES.

FATHER SYSCO WAS A PRIEST OUT OF LEXINGTON WHO HAS MADE TWO TRIPS UP HERE.

HE CAME THE FIRST TIME AND BROUGHT $20,000.

CAME BACK THE SECOND TIME BROUGHT ANOTHER $50,000 AND MADE A COMMITMENT TO DO ANOTHER $25,000 JUST BECAUSE HE WANTS TO HELP.

HE WANTS EASTERN KENTUCKY TO COME BACK UP STRONGER.

I HAVE NEVER KNOWN A CATHOLIC, NEVER-- YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY, BUT I HAVEN'T.

I'M BAPTIST.

SO I'VE NEVER DEALT WITH THE CATHOLIC...

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE LEARNED TO LOVE HIM, CARE FOR HIM.

IT JUST GIVES EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT MORE VARIETY IN THEIR LIVES, I THINK.

>> IT SHOWS US, TOO, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DENOMINATION YOU ARE, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.

WE ALL WANT TO HELP AND HAVE A SERVANT'S HEART FOR ONE ANOTHER.

>> THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.

HE SAID SOMEONE ASKED HIM, BUT SHE IS NOT OF YOUR FAITH.

HE SAID THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

SHE'S A HUMAN.

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COLOR, DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST COMPASSION FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

>> WE ARE JUST KIND OF SHANGING-- WE ARE JUST HANGING OUT, WORE OUT AND WONDERING WHAT TO DO.

WE JUST PLOTTED OUR COURSE MINUTE BY MINUTE, YOU KNOW.

AND THIS BIG RENTAL TRUCK PULLS IN AND THESE THREE GUYS GET OUT.

AND THEY CAN'T EVEN STAND UP.

I WAS LIKE THESE GUYS ARE DRUNK.

AND THEY SAID ARE WE WELCOME HERE?

I SAID WELL YEAH, EVERYBODY'S WELCOME.

AND THEY SAID WE'VE COME TO COOK FOR Y'ALL.

AND THEY GOT THESE COOLERS OF MEAT AND BROUGHT THEM IN HERE AND IT WAS THE FINEST OF HAMBURGER AND HOT DOGS AND STEAK, AND THEY HAD CANS OF SPAM.

THAT'S THE FUNNY THING.

SO THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN I GET DOWN HERE, THEY SAID WE GOT YOU BREAKFAST OVER HERE.

WELL, HILLBILLILIES LOVE SPAM, I MEAN MOST OF THEM DO.

THEY FIXED ME UP A SPAM SANDWICH ON WHITE BREAD.

I REALLY NEVER TASTED NOTHING THAT TASTE NO BETTER THAT MORNING.

AND GIVE ME A CUP OF COFFEE.

AND THEY STAYED HERE WITH US THREE DAYS.

I DON'T THINK THEY DREW A SOBER BREATH WHILE THEY WERE HERE AND THEY KEPT ON COOKING.

THAT'S WHY I CALL THEM DRUNK ANGELS.

THEY COME OUT OF NOWHERE AND THEY WENT BACK IN TO NOWHERE AND WE DON'T KNOW.

AND THEY HAD EAR GAUGES AND BIG FULL SLEEVE TATTOOS.

THEY WERE UNLIKELY LOOKING ANGELS BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE ANGELS.

>> I GUESS YOU CAN SAY THERE IS A PART OF THAT THAT IS GOOD IN THE SENSE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS AND A COMMUNITY HELPING OUT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES AND VOLUNTEERS AND WE WE EVENTUALLY HIT A POINT WHERE WE WERE VERY EXHAUSTED AND WE RAN OUT OF VOLUNTEERS.

AND IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE NEED OF, YOU KNOW, INSTITUTIONS WITH GREATER RESOURCES AND MONEY AND MAN POWER TO BE AVAILABLE TO HELP DURING TIMES LIKE THIS.

>> IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FLOOD, THERE WERE REPORTERS HERE FROM DIFFERENT PLACES AND ONE OF THEM SAID, WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO SAY THAT THEY OUGHT TO JUST MOVE OUT OF THERE?

AND MY ANSWER AFTER A FEW SECONDS THOUGHT WAS I WOULD PROBABLY GIVE THOSE PEOPLE THE SAME ANSWER THAT FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA WHO LIVE IN WILDFIRE COUNTRY WOULD GIVE, OR THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN EARTHQUAKE PRONE AREAS OR ON THE COAST WITH HURRICANES OR NEAR A VOLCANO, IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO.

THIS IS HOME.

>> SO THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN.

MY PARENTS BOUGHT IT OR MOVED IN IN '72.

THEY HAVE BEEN HERE 50 YEARS NOW.

IT'S MY AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE NEXT DOOR AND FLIPPING AROUND THIS WAY, THIS IS MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.

MY GRANDMOTHER LEFT IT TO ME WHEN SHE PASSED.

THIS IS MY GRANDPARENTS HOUSE.

THIS AREA, THEY CALL IT NUMBER TWO BOTTOM.

THE REASON THEY CALL IT THAT, THE 202 MINE FOR CONSOLIDATION.

THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT THE FLOODING, PARTICULARLY IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTY IS A LOT OF THE HOMES ARE CLOSE TO THE RIVER BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MINES WERE LOCATED.

AND THAT WAS SOME OF THE FLAT AREA THAT THE COAL COMPANY HAD TO CONSTRUCT THESE HOMES.

SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT WHY DO PEOPLE LIVE SO CLOSE TO THE WATER, CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY MADE THAT DECISION FOR EVERYBODY ABOUT 100 YEARS AGO.

>> PART OF THE STRUGGLE HAS BEEN THAT WE HAVE BEEN SO CLOSELY CONNECTED TO A SINGLE INDUSTRY.

IT IS REALLY DRIVEN OUR ECONOMIC BASE AND OUR PERSONALITY AND WHO WE ARE FOR A CENTURY.

>> ONCE THE COAL BUST HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, ECONOMICALLY IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU MOVE AWAY OR HOW DO YOU LEAVE A PLACE?

AND I HAVEN'T MENTIONED LIKE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE COUNTRY.

IT'S LIKE A REALLY PRETTY PLACE TO LIVE.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO PEOPLE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

YOU CAN JUST LOOK AROUND.

>> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH SO FAR.

IT'S REALLY NICE.

IT HAS ISSUES.

>> I LIKE THE WAY HIS ARM IS SET.

>> I LOVE THIS AND I LOVE THE LEADING LINES.

THEY ALL LEAD YOU TO HIS FACE.

WHEN THE LADIES STARTED BRINGING PICTURES OF HER DAD'S SHOP AND I HAD TO LOOK AT THOSE.

IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.

AND THAT LOOKS TO BE AN ORIGINAL DRAWING.

YOU CAN SEE THE MOLD AND THIS ONE JUST LIKE REACHES IN YOUR HEART AND GRABS IT.

>> SO THIS IS MY DAD'S TATTOO SHOP.

THE PARLOR ROOM AND IT WAS DOING PRETTY GOOD.

AND THE FLOOD GOT TO IT.

AND SO A LOT OF THE ARTWORK THAT HAD IN THERE GOT DESTROYED AND A LOT OF THEIR EQUIPMENT GOT PRETTY DIRTY AND SO THEY ARE WORKING ON CLEANING IT UP AND STUFF AND HAVE MOVED A LOT OF THE STUFF OUT OF THE SHOP.

>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, RIGHT AFTER THE FLOOD, I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE I OVERDID IT AND MY-- I LOST MY SPIRIT.

THAT SPIRIT STARTED COMING BACK AND MY STRENGTH AND THEN LOOKING AT HER PHOTOGRAPHS, SHE HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING EVERY WEEK HER DAD IN THAT SHOP, AND SEEING THOSE.

SO THEN ONE DAY I JUST SAID, OKAY, NOW'S THE TIME.

I JUST CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.

HERE THEY ARE.

LET'S RUN THROUGH THEM, SEE WHAT WE GOT.

I DIDN'T REMEMBER INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHS UNTIL I STARTED GOING BACK THROUGH THEM AND WENT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

THAT TELLS A STORY.

THIS TELLS A STORY.

I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT AFFECTED ME IS WHEN I PASSED THOSE CHECKS OUT FOR FLOOD RELIEF AND I WENT TO ALL THESE PEOPLE'S HOUSES, AND ACTUALLY PHOTOGRAPHED SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE.

AND I LOOKED AT THOSE RIGHT AWAY AND I STARTED HEARING THEIR STORIES.

I THINK THAT HAD A BIG EFFECT ON IT, TOO.

MY MIND IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE RIGHT NOW, I GUESS.

THE SAD THING IS THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY, WHOSE MINDS ARE STILL NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND MAY NEVER BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AGAIN.

>> I HEARD THIS TERM I THINK HAS HELPED ME A LOT.

AND IT'S POST TRAUMATIC GROWTH.

THERE WAS A GUY CAME, AND HE USED THAT TERMINOLOGY.

AND SEEM LIKE I JUST GRABBED ON TO THAT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED HERE, AND SOME OF IT WAS OUR OWN NEGLECT, YOU KNOW.

I'LL SHOULDER PART OF THE BLAME.

AND SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE KIND OF BEEN WIPED OUT SO TO SPEAK.

SO, TO ME, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO BUT BUILD BACK AND BUILD BETTER.

>> ON THIS PROPERTY HERE, HOMES IS A NON-PROFIT DEVELOPER OF HOUSING.

WE DO A LOT OF THINGS.

OUR MAIN MISSION IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS, AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE THE FLOOD.

WE WILL BE HERE LONG AFTER THE FLOOD.

BUT THIS IS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE BOUGHT, RAW PROPERTY THAT WE DEVELOPED INTO FOUR BUILDING SITES.

THE HOUSE THAT WE ARE WORKING ON TODAY IS FOR THE MORGAN FAMILY, WHO LOST THEIR HOME IN THE FLOOD.

>> YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.

WE COULD HAVE NOT-- >> COULD HAVE NOT GOT OUT.

>> WE COULD HAVE LOST ONE OF OUR-- WE COULD HAVE LOST MY DOG, YOU KNOW.

HE'S A CHILD.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE ON TO HIGHER GROUND, OUT OF THE FLOOD PLAIN AND THIS WILL HELP US TO DO THAT.

>> GOD HAS ANSWERED MY PRAYER.

I'M GOING TO GET MY HOME.

AND I SAID, IT MAY TAKE US A LITTLE BIT BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HOME BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT HOME.

WE'VE DONE WENT AND BOUGHT SOME FURNITURE.

>> OH YEAH.

>> I THINK I'M STILL PROCESSING HOW TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE AND, YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO WE DID THIS PROJECT CALLED "MY STORY TO TELL" AND SOMEONE HAD WROTE ON THIS POSTCARD THAT WE WERE COLLECTING "I STAYED SO I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I WAS WRONG."

AND THAT POSTCARD HAS ALWAYS STOOD OUT TO ME LIKE I DON'T WANT TO FEEL THAT WAY.

I DON'T WANT TO DEDICATE MY LIFE TO SOMETHING AND TURN AROUND AND FEEL THAT WAY.

THIS FLOOD HAS BEEN THAT MOMENT OF LIKE DO I STAY?

CAN I TOUGH IT OUT TO STAY AND STAY IN A WAY THAT I WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER AND THINK IT CAN BE BETTER?

I'M BLESSED AND PRIVILEGED TO SAY I COULD LEAVE IF I NEEDED TO.

NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT HERE.

AND I CAN'T LEAVE THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION HERE.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT.

I MEAN I DO THINK THIS FLOOD WAS A ONCE IN MANY GENERATIONS EVENT.

THERE IS OPPORTUNITY IN THIS.

I MEAN PEOPLE CAN BUILD BACK A LITTLE BETTER THAN BEFORE.

THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, PREPARE FOR THE NEXT FLOOD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ON EVERYBODY'S MIND WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, YOU KNOW.

IS THE NEXT 500 YEAR FLOOD GOING TO COME IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

>> WE ALREADY FOUGHT FOR ANY ATTENTION WE GET HERE SO HOW DO WE CONNECT IT INSTEAD OF FIGHTING FOR THE RESOURCES?

HOW DO WE CONNECT IT TO SAY WE UNDERSTAND WHAT PEAB IS GOING THROUGH AND WHAT ALASKA IS GOING THROUGH.

WE UNDERSTAND WHAT PUERTO RICO IS NOW GOING THROUGH.

HOW DO WE BUILD BRIDGES SO THAT WE ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR RESOURCES?

INSTEAD WE ARE ADDRESSING WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?

>> QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY.

AND AN INTEREST IN, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING A REGION THAT'S REALLY SUPPORTED A LOT OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY'S GROWTH, YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST 100 YEARS.

I MEAN THAT'S WHAT I HOPE HAPPENS, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY UNCERTAIN.

>> I'M 67 YEARS OLD.

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WILL HAVE TO DO TO REOPEN THAT STORE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $1.5 MILLION ALMOST $2 MILLION.

I'D WORKED FOR 50 YEARS TO GET TO IT THAT.

IT WAS COMPLETELY PAID FOR.

I PRAYED ALL MY LIFE THAT SIMON WOULD COME IN AND TAKE THE STORE.

NEVER PUSHED HIM, NEVER SAID ANYTHING.

JUST SILENTLY WAITED TO SEE IF HE WAS GOING TO COME IN.

TWO YEARS AGO HE DECIDED HEY, I WANT TO BE HERE.

I PLANNED ON STAYING WITH HIM FOR THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED AND THEN I REALLY JUST HAD TO SIT DOWN WITH SIMON AND ARTHUR AND SAY, OKAY, I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS A STORE.

I THINK IT'S A HUGE INCONVENIENCE FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE A STORE.

AND I MISS HIM AND THEN IT'S 25 OTHER PEOPLE HERE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR A LOT OF YEARS.

>> WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND THE WAY WE WANT TO GO ABOUT IT.

WE NEVER WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S WHAT GOD WANTED FOR US.

SO WE'VE ACCEPTED THAT, AND WE ARE GOING TO JUST TRY TO CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO.

MOM WORKED 50 YEARS AND GOT THIS STORE PAID OFF SO I'M NEXT IN LINE TO WORK ANOTHER 50 YEARS AND TRY TO GET IT PAID OFF AND WHENEVER ME AND MY WIFE HAVE KIDS, TRY TO DO THE SAME, NOT FORCE THEM INTO IT BUT HOPEFULLY ONE DAY THEY'LL CONTINUE THE LEGACY AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

>> WE PLAN ON OPENING APRIL 1, 2023.

>> THIS IS OUR HOME.

THIS IS OUR PEOPLE.

AND WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER.

AND IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING AND IT'S BEEN BAD AND IT'S HARD.

BUT WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO BETTER TIMES.

AND MAKE IT COME BACK BETTER.

I THINK WE CAN COME BACK BETTER.

I THINK WE CAN COME BACK STRONGER.

I THINK WE CAN COME BACK MORE TOGETHER.

I REALLY DO.