Flooded with Help and Hope

By Amy Charles

When catastrophic floods hit Eastern Kentucky in late July, the University of Pikeville mobilized quickly to help with flood relief efforts across the region. While UPIKE’s campus was spared from damage, surrounding communities and counties were devastated by floodwaters.

Part of the fundamental leadership strategy of President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D., is service. It is embedded into every aspect of his administration. In the days following the disaster, hundreds of members of the UPIKE Family could be found shoveling mud, carrying debris and serving food to those in need. Webb was among those pitching in to help.

“When tragedy strikes in the mountains, we do what the Appalachians have done since the 1700s. We get busy and help our neighbors,” said Webb. “The UPIKE Family is who we are because of where we are. Our calling is as it has always been, to serve.”

The UPIKE Family was actively involved in providing direct relief to its neighbors. When the call came in from a nearby county about an urgent need for water, the university immediately established a water drive. In two days, nearly 300 cases of bottled water were donated and delivered to areas in desperate need of clean drinking water. The university continued its commitment to the students and families of Eastern Kentucky by partnering with other organizations assisting with flood clean-up. UPIKE quickly became a hub for regional relief efforts, housing nearly 50 American Red Cross responders in campus residence halls. The baseball field became a landing pad for National Guard Black Hawk helicopters to drop off much-needed medical supplies for delivery to hard-to-reach areas throughout the region.

Teams of UPIKE students, faculty and staff made trips to areas ravaged by flooding to lend a hand. Chaplain Rob Musick coordinated much of the university’s volunteer efforts.

“I am in awe of the way that our students, staff and faculty have given of themselves to help the community, and I am blown away by their compassion and willingness to serve,” said Musick. “As I watched them get covered in mud, work until dark and provide big donations, I was moved by the hunger to help. It is truly amazing to know that we are surrounded by a university family that cares deeply.”

Faculty and staff worked to identify and support students impacted by the flooding, helping to connect them with resources offered by the university and outside sources. Arrangements were made for students displaced by flooding to move to campus early for the fall semester. The UPIKE Student Mental Health Committee coordinated a stuffed animal drive for children of the region, to replace something of comfort they lost in the flood.

UPIKE’s annual day of service for incoming freshmen makes a statement about the value and impact of volunteer service. This year, two teams of students traveled to Hazard and Vicco to help clean up flooded homes. Students donned protective gear and worked to rip out damaged flooring, soggy drywall and wet insulation.

“I am honestly very, very proud of our students. I didn’t hear complaints from them as they worked tirelessly to help,” recalled Administrative Assistant for the School of Social Work Robin Keathley, who led the team in the Vicco location. “Yes, we got a little messy, but they shrugged it off and got right back to work.”

It was not just the undergraduate students and faculty getting their paws dirty to help clean up the community. The Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine and Kentucky College of Optometry played a large role in relief efforts in the days and weeks following the floods. The Monday following the flooding, KYCOM’s classes were canceled so that students could become intentionally active in service. On that day alone, 170 KYCOM students pitched in to aid in clean up efforts in the community.

For Dean of KYCOM Joe Kingery, D.O., KYCOM ’06, MBA ’18, FACOFP, FAAFP, second-year KYCOM student Kasey Williams was a stand-out.

“Kasey was phenomenal with organizing relief efforts for the flood victims and has shown himself to be a true leader. Not only did he coordinate students going to different places, working with local officials and clinic managers, but he was also in the mud helping clean up,” said Kingery. “KYCOM students really stepped up to the challenges the community faced, and I am very proud of them. They helped exemplify what it means to be a physician — putting others in need first.”

Collectively, KYCOM students and faculty spent more than 770 hours in disaster relief efforts across approximately nine cities and counties. Williams worked with administration and staff at Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation in Whitesburg, Ky., organizing students to clean the flooded facility, preparing it to continue providing emergency healthcare treatments and necessities to the public. He and fellow classmates worked with the American Red Cross providing first aid and helping with vaccination efforts. Medical students also volunteered cooking and serving meals and assisting people in cleaning their properties.

“I am very thankful to be part of the UPIKE Family,” said Williams. “Our institution and its members are dedicated to helping the community, which is especially unique about this school.”

Optometry students joined Dean of KYCO Micheal Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., FAAO, FNAP, and other faculty in community eye clinics in areas hit hardest to determine the best ways they could help those in need. They cleaned up homes and yards, organized donations and distributed items collected from the Amazon registry they established. Many volunteered with Mercy Chefs to help prepare food and serve meals to the Whitesburg community. They also gathered school supplies and filled 72 backpacks to help children impacted by the disaster.

“I am very proud of our KYCO students, staff and faculty for their volunteer efforts. Many KYCO students are not originally from the Appalachian region but recognized the need to help the people of Eastern Kentucky affected by the floods,” said Assistant Professor of Optometry Rachel Fitzgerald, O.D., FAAO. “Their donations and the hours they spent volunteering hopefully made a large difference to our local community, and I look forward to the difference they will make in the future.”

As recovery efforts move forward, UPIKE continues to support students and alumni. The UPIKE Family Flood Support initiative was launched to assist those affected by flooding. Alumni and friends of the university interested in helping can designate their university donations to the Student Emergency Fund. Established in 2020, the fund was created to help students continue their education at UPIKE after being impacted by an emergency or disaster. Visit upike.edu/giving to explore more ways to give.

Any alumni of UPIKE or Pikeville College whose diploma may have been damaged by flood water can contact the registrar's office to receive a replacement free of charge. Email laurenpiotrowski@upike.edu or call (606) 218-5193.

Alumni and friends of the university interested in helping can designate their university donations to the Student Emergency Fund. Established in 2020, the fund was created to help students continue their education at UPIKE after being impacted by an emergency or disaster. Learn more at upike.edu/giving.