Two years ago, strong and heavy floodwaters tore through communities in eastern Kentucky, destroying homes and taking the lives of 45 people.

As the waters receded, it quickly became apparent that Appalachian Kentucky needed more housing.

Democratic Governor Andy Beshear, who is reportedly in the running to be vice president Kamala Harris, his running mate, visited four hard hit counties last week, saying at his first stop, quote, No matter what role I'm in, I'm going to be here.

Here's more from Kentucky Edition's Clayton Dalton.

Andy Beshear traveled throughout eastern Kentucky last Friday to commemorate the two year anniversary of the 2022 floods.

His first stop was Floyd County with the Appalachia Service Project, where he gave 11 families the keys to their newly built homes.

This year also offered a glimpse of what's next.

We are not done across eastern Kentucky.

Right now, we have high ground projects that are going to build at least 500 homes that we're working through.

And we believe thousands.

In addition to that, I'm going to go from here to visit Chestnut Ridge in that county to look at all the work that's being done.

I'm going to announce today that we've closed on 100 acres on that site.

So we're going to be able to start building homes here in the fall and in the winter.

We're also going to be in Skyview in Perry County, where we're completing a $1 million access road.

The next step is a $12.7 million construction phase.

We're going to build streets, build foundation for houses, and put the finishing touch on the main road.

I think you're going to see houses coming up in Perry County this year and then we're going to be in breath.

The county where the mayor and the judge have worked to find every piece of ground that we can to support as many homes for folks that were impacted, not just in 2022, they were hit by terrible flooding in 2021 as well.

So we are here for the long haul.

Jackie Bradley, a resident of Floyd County, lost her home in the flood two years ago.

My grandson, I was sitting on my son's porch and he said, Granny, look at your house.

He said, It looks like he goes, It's the Wizard of Oz is going around.

I was caught in a whirlpool.

But on Friday, she got the keys to her new home.

I am so thankful for this.

And they've done a good job.

It's beautiful on the inside.

I am looking to have peace and quiet and enjoy life.

I'm over 70 years old and it's time for me to have some peace and quiet.

Amidst the celebration.

There was also sadness as communities like Hindman in Not County remembered those who died in the floods.

Now, two years ago, I stood with Judge Dobson.

It's become a friend of mine at a property not far from here where children have been swept away.

The house was gone and a plastic swing was all that remained hanging from a tree.

I remembered the pain as we sat there and we prayed for that family and then we prayed for a better day that would come for this community, this county and this city.

It was devastating.

And my heart, you know, I love all these people.

And in my job, I made it about once more to hear.

And my heart broke.

And then we hear it.

Or some people passed away.

Small children.

And my heart was broke.

And all this devastation that we're not used to this.

Your heart heals some, but you still will always remember that.

What happened?

For Kentucky edition I'm Clayton Dalton.