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This set of photographs showcases the aftermath and beginnings of recovery for the Eastern Kentucky communities that were flooded in the summer of 2022. On July 27, 2022, a devastating overnight flash flooding event caused 45 deaths and the destruction of homes, schools, historical archives and places of art and culture. Families who had lived in Eastern Kentucky for generations never thought their homes were in potential flood plains, but saw water reach their homes for the first time. Those that were impacted have started to rebuild, but scars are still apparent throughout the region. Water and mud stains are still visible on buildings. Clothes, toys and appliances are still stuck in trees along riverbanks. Basements remain empty, lacking the family heirlooms they used to house. Communities are working to rebuild their homes and regain a sense of normalcy in a region that will never fully recover.
For the Washington Post and Kentucky Lantern
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![JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: Homes along Gross Loop off of KY-15 are flooded with water from the North Fork of the Kentucky River. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: Homes along Gross Loop off of KY-15 are flooded with water from the North Fork of the Kentucky River. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: Robert Hollan, his Kimberly DiVietri and their dog, Rascal, wait in the shelter inside the Hazard Community College Lee's College campus. The two Jackson natives celebrated their 21 anniversary in June. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/Fo]()
JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: Robert Hollan, his Kimberly DiVietri and their dog, Rascal, wait in the shelter inside the Hazard Community College Lee's College campus. The two Jackson natives celebrated their 21 anniversary in June. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: A displaced horse eats from a bush along Gross Loop. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: A displaced horse eats from a bush along Gross Loop. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: Residents of Nim Henson Geriatric Center wait outside in a line of wheelchairs as local volunteers and staff work to evacuate them via school bus. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: Residents of Nim Henson Geriatric Center wait outside in a line of wheelchairs as local volunteers and staff work to evacuate them via school bus. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![HAZARD, KY - JULY, 31: Karen Daugherty holds her head in her hands during a prayer during the service at Gospel Light Church. Daugherty is staying with her family in the church, which is set up as a shelter. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington P]()
HAZARD, KY - JULY, 31: Karen Daugherty holds her head in her hands during a prayer during the service at Gospel Light Church. Daugherty is staying with her family in the church, which is set up as a shelter. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![JACKSON, KY - JULY, 29: Altro Church of God along State Highway 1110 sustained significant damage from floodwaters. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
JACKSON, KY - JULY, 29: Altro Church of God along State Highway 1110 sustained significant damage from floodwaters. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![HINDMAN, KY - JULY, 30: Kris Patrick, who works as a Luthier at the Appalachian School of Luthiery, looks for a fret kisser tool in the mud covering the floor of the shop. Luthiery is the practice of creating or repairing stringed instruments. (Photo by A]()
HINDMAN, KY - JULY, 30: Kris Patrick, who works as a Luthier at the Appalachian School of Luthiery, looks for a fret kisser tool in the mud covering the floor of the shop. Luthiery is the practice of creating or repairing stringed instruments. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![HINDMAN, KY - JULY, 30: Debris lines Main Street in downtown Hindman while a car remains flipped in the Left Fork of Troublesome Creek. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
HINDMAN, KY - JULY, 30: Debris lines Main Street in downtown Hindman while a car remains flipped in the Left Fork of Troublesome Creek. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![HAZARD, KY - JULY, 28: Angie Fields washes her arm with a washcloth in the girls restroom at West Perry Elementary School. She told herself this morning that she "would do whatever I had to do to stay clean." (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington P]()
HAZARD, KY - JULY, 28: Angie Fields washes her arm with a washcloth in the girls restroom at West Perry Elementary School. She told herself this morning that she "would do whatever I had to do to stay clean." (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![FISTY, KY - JULY, 30: A statue from a nativity scene, a pool ball and a set of keys sit among the remnants of a structure. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
FISTY, KY - JULY, 30: A statue from a nativity scene, a pool ball and a set of keys sit among the remnants of a structure. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![BULAN, KY - JULY, 29: Tonya Holliday (right) helps her sister Marie Tuttle clean mud out of Tuttle's home after it was flooded Thursday night. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
BULAN, KY - JULY, 29: Tonya Holliday (right) helps her sister Marie Tuttle clean mud out of Tuttle's home after it was flooded Thursday night. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: Floodwaters along KY-15. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
JACKSON, KY - JULY, 28: Floodwaters along KY-15. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![LOST CREEK, KY - FEB, 23: Lena Shouse works on patching and plastering her kitchen walls. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
LOST CREEK, KY - FEB, 23: Lena Shouse works on patching and plastering her kitchen walls. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![Carolyn Combs speaks with Wallace Caleb Gates in her home in Jackson, Kentucky on December 19, 2022. The Combs’ home was damaged in both the March 2021 and July 2022 floods. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern]()
Carolyn Combs speaks with Wallace Caleb Gates in her home in Jackson, Kentucky on December 19, 2022. The Combs’ home was damaged in both the March 2021 and July 2022 floods. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern
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![ARY, KY - FEB, 24: The water line from flooding in July 2022 is still visible on Chaney’s Grocery along KY-476. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)]()
ARY, KY - FEB, 24: The water line from flooding in July 2022 is still visible on Chaney’s Grocery along KY-476. (Photo by Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post)
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![Thirteen empty mailboxes sit outside on December 19, 2022, inwhat used to be Riverside Park, which was the location of between 13-15 mobile homes that were all damaged or washed away in the July 2022 flood in Jackson, Kentucky. Photo by Arden Barnes for t]()
Thirteen empty mailboxes sit outside on December 19, 2022, inwhat used to be Riverside Park, which was the location of between 13-15 mobile homes that were all damaged or washed away in the July 2022 flood in Jackson, Kentucky. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern
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![The ROTC program classroom at Breathitt County High School was recently renovated after being damaged in the July 2022 flood in Jackson, Kentucky on December 20, 2022. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern]()
The ROTC program classroom at Breathitt County High School was recently renovated after being damaged in the July 2022 flood in Jackson, Kentucky on December 20, 2022. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern
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![Nancy Herald’s home on Turner Drive in Jackson, Kentucky, was damaged in both the March 2021 and July 2022 floods. The water line from the July 2022 flood is still visible, photographed on December 19, 2022. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern]()
Nancy Herald’s home on Turner Drive in Jackson, Kentucky, was damaged in both the March 2021 and July 2022 floods. The water line from the July 2022 flood is still visible, photographed on December 19, 2022. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern
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![The basement of Nancy Herald’s home in Jackson, Kentucky on December 19, 2022. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern]()
The basement of Nancy Herald’s home in Jackson, Kentucky on December 19, 2022. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern
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![River Slade Dunn, held by his father Dexter, in their home in Jackson, Kentucky on December 19, 2022. River’s mother was over 8 months pregnant with him during the July 2022 flood, which damaged his family’s home. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky La]()
River Slade Dunn, held by his father Dexter, in their home in Jackson, Kentucky on December 19, 2022. River’s mother was over 8 months pregnant with him during the July 2022 flood, which damaged his family’s home. Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern
