Climate Change Response Work illustrates the trending data for Kentucky’s weather saying, “While 1921 remains the warmest year on record, three of the five warmest years have occurred over the past decade.” Kentuckians have lived the aforementioned statistics which is why many are surprised at 2025’s sudden outburst of snow. Early in January, Walton-Verona shut down in-person and online learning was powered-on for a few days until there was a break in the snow. The schedule returned to normal until last week when students had two days of Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI). Over the weekend, light dusting turned into a few inches of snow on the ground which leads one to question what is coming next.
In order to understand what will happen, a pattern must be traced from past weather records. As the snow from early January melted and rain came, water levels began to rise. As of Tuesday, 14 people were killed in the flooding announced by Andy Beshear. In light of the dramatic weather changes, people are doing their best to stay alert. As seen in the past, neighbors are coming together to keep each other safe and there are many ways to donate. Convoy of Hope, Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund, and Kentucky.gov are just a few of the organizations accepting donations to help victims and their families.
Kentucky.gov has a few resources on the website discussing ways to deal with extreme weather. It mentions flooding tips such as educating people on their surroundings and stocking up on useful tools. During a flood, it is advised to listen to the radio and evacuate as soon as possible. After a flood, people are asked to stay away from flood water as it may be contaminated and re-enter the area cautiously. The Eastern Kentucky flooding has harmed not just the land, but stained the lives of the people that live on that land. Fortunately, thousands have recognized the damage flooding has caused and have jumped in to help people they may not even know.
