University of Kentucky Launches $1.1 Million Initiative to Combat Flash Flooding in Eastern Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky – A team of researchers from the University of Kentucky is embarking on a critical initiative to improve understanding and preparedness for flash flooding in parts of Eastern Kentucky. This comes in the wake of the devastating floods that struck the region in late July 2022, which resulted in 45 fatalities and significant destruction, displacing hundreds of families.

Between July 25-29, 2022, areas across 13 counties saw between 14 to 16 inches of rain, marking it as the deadliest nontropical flood event in the United States since the late 1970s, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The floods wreaked havoc on local communities, destroying over 9,000 homes.

The new initiative, titled “The Flooding in Appalachian Streams and Headwaters Initiative: Mitigating impacts of climate change and flash flooding in Appalachia,” is backed by nearly $1.1 million in funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The project aims to enhance the region’s infrastructure to understand, predict, and prepare for future flooding events, particularly in economically disadvantaged rural areas.

“We want to do everything we can as scientists and engineers to build up the infrastructure to understand, predict, and prepare for flash floods in this region,” said Christopher Barton, Ph.D., the principal investigator of the project. Barton emphasized the importance of understanding the interplay between climate change and landscape alterations that affect flash flood risks.

The four-year project will collaborate with experts from the University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University, West Virginia University, and Marshall University. The research team will focus on flash flooding in small headwater streams, leveraging data to develop advanced early warning systems, helping to ensure timely evacuations before floods escalate.

“Our goal is to use new models, strategically placed sensors, and regional flood analyses, in addition to insights from community members, to deepen our understanding of flood-related issues,” stated James Fox, Ph.D., co-principal investigator and civil engineering professor.

The initiative will utilize data from the Robinson Forest, a key research site that has been collecting climate data for over 50 years. Kenton L. Sena, Ph.D., another co-principal investigator, noted the significance of this extensive climate record in understanding how small streams contribute to larger flood impacts.

In addition to research, the project will also focus on outreach efforts in Eastern Kentucky to enhance science education in local high schools and middle schools and promote reforestation initiatives aimed at reducing flood risks indirectly.

This funding is part of a broader $77.8 million investment by the NSF to support 14 projects across the United States aimed at advancing climate change research and building resilience in communities most impacted by such challenges.