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Martin County wins $7 million to buy out flood-prone homes
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County is moving forward with an ambitious plan to buy out dozens of flood-prone homes, drawing on nearly $7 million in aid to help residents relocate from areas repeatedly hit by floods. Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills announced that the county has received approval for a $5.7 million
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Gov. Beshear requests more federal aid
FRANKFORT — Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday that he has submitted two additional aid requests to FEMA to support families and communities impacted by April’s floods. The governor is requesting that 16 more counties receive Individual Assistance, which provides direct support to residents for needs like housing repairs, temporary shelter and disaster-related expenses not covered
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Flash floods batter Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN MARTIN COUNTY, Ky. — Storms quickly caused a crisis across Martin County as they did across Kentucky, the Midwest and the Midsouth over the weekend. Louisville, Frankfort and Owensboro saw catastrophic flooding, while there were 93 tornadoes in the affected areas of the country. In Martin County, from the head
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Inez Fire Department rescues 12 from floodwaters
The Inez Fire Department sprang into action during severe flooding last week, rescuing 12 individuals across Martin County. Crews first responded to Blacklog, where they rescued two stranded motorists. They found another stranded motorist on Route 40 in Tomahawk and one more at the mouth of Halls Branch. As water levels continued to rise, firefighters
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Corps of Engineers monitors reservoirs during flooding
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District is actively operating for the widespread flooding following a weekend of intense rainfall that drenched parts of Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio. Rainfall totals across the region ranged from 2 to 7+ inches, resulting in elevated lake levels at the district’s
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Flood debris dumpsite reopens in Martin County
BUCK CREEK HILL — Martin County Fiscal Court has reopened the flood debris dumpsite on Buck Creek Hill for residents affected by storms and flooding beginning April 2 and continuing. The site will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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In the wake of the flood, Martin County rebuilds joy
When disaster strikes, it reveals the character of a community. In Martin County, the Tug Fork spilled its banks and forced families to flee by helicopter from riverfront homes. But when the muddy water receded, compassion rose. The flood that hit our county in February—cresting at 51.22 feet in Kermit, the highest in nearly 50
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Federal assistance for damaged private roads, bridges in Kentucky and West Virginia
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT Residents of Kentucky and West Virginia whose private roads, bridges, or driveways were damaged by the severe storms and flooding in February may qualify for federal assistance to help with repairs or replacement from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to information on FEMA’s website, to qualify for FEMA assistance the
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Flood debris dumpsters cost county $20K so far
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The cost of clearing flood debris dominated discussion at a Martin County Fiscal Court special meeting Feb. 26. Magistrates approved payments totaling nearly $20,000 for roll-off dumpsters used in flood cleanup efforts in Lovely. The invoices submitted by Howell’s Recycling & Sanitation of Debord covered services Feb. 18,
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Trapped by the flood: My survival and a community’s strength
BY BARBIANN MAYNARD Against all odds, I survived the historic flood that ravaged our area Feb. 16, 2025. Now it is time to share my experience. Let us back up a little. When I was 12 and my Leigh Ann Maynard was three, our mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29.
