While I was putting together this newsletter, flooding started to devastate Eastern Kentucky. I started thinking about the fact that I've worked on several books recently about the power of rain. As with so much in nature, what can be amazing and life-giving can quickly turn destructive. All Kentuckians know that the rains that grow our verdant crops and feed our lovely lakes and rivers turn deadly all too often in the form of flash floods. Compounding the terrible human cost - 37 lives lost so far, and that toll will rise as searches continue; hundreds are missing - and immense property damage this time is the fact that the priceless Appalachian archives at both Appalshop and the Hindman Settlement School have been flooded out, with the loss of many irreplaceable historical and cultural artifacts and sources.
So instead of writing up events for this month, I'm linking below to a very helpful Lexington Herald-Leader article by Jackie Starkey and Aaron Mudd, detailing the many ways to help, from sending money to gathering and donating necessary supplies. Here's how to pitch in.
Back to our regular programming in September.