Virginia & ARNOLD WEAVER

Whitesburg, Kentucky

"It leaves you scarred inside. Cause you'll never forget it. You'll never forget. You might get halfway over it, but you won't never forget it. It'll always be."

–Arnold Weaver

Summer, 2022. One of the most catastrophic floods in Eastern Kentucky’s history upends the lives of the people who live there. Homes destroyed, infrastructure in ruins, and thousands of residents displaced. Lifelong Whitesburg resident Virginia, along with her husband Arnold are among them.

Their next step? Rebuilding. But finding safe, affordable housing in Eastern Kentucky has been a persistent struggle for decades.

Now, to help fill the gaps left by inconsistent state support, grassroots organizing efforts have come together to form Housing Can’t Wait. This is a story of how members of a community found new ways to reach out, to reimagine their lives amidst the wreckage, and uncover pathways to a more resilient, sustainable community in the midst of a historic crisis.

Additional flood footage provided by Travis Bowling, Clara Leonard, Appalachia Service Project and Homes, Inc.

Published 2024

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