Folkways Reporter Zack Harold recently made a trip to the small town of New Vrindaban, in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. It’s a Hare Krishna community started in the late 60s. These days, the town is home to a few hundred permanent residents, but thousands of pilgrims visit each year. They come to worship in the temple — and to visit the opulent Palace of Gold. But those main attractions were a pretty small part of Zack’s trip. He ended up spending much of his time in the kitchen.
Remembering Floods And Recovering From Disaster, Inside Appalachia
Share this Article
Flooding is a recurring problem across Appalachia. This week, we’re taking stock, and looking back on floods that have devastated parts of West Virginia and Kentucky.
We explore some of the reasons for floods, as well as the aftermath and the slow recovery that often follows disaster.
It’s not all gloom. Even in our hardest moments, there’s always hope.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In 2016, West Virginia saw 10 inches of rain in 12 hours. The resulting flooding led to 23 deaths. The governor mobilized hundreds of members of the West Virginia National Guard.
Jessica Lilly reported from the town of Richwood and told a story that went back decades.
Reclaiming Rand
Rand, West Virginia, is a town of about 900 people just outside Charleston. Flooding has been a regular problem for decades, partly because of longstanding issues with faulty storm sewers.
Tiara Brown reported this story.
Healing Comes From Alan “Cathead” Johnston’s Ballad
Alan “Cathead” Johnston with his daughters Jessi and Stacey at the Wheeling Jamboree.
Courtesy Photo
Singer and songwriter Alan “Cathead” Johnston wrote the song, “Muddy Waters” about two horrific back-to-back 100-year floods that tore through McDowell County in 2001 and 2002.
It’s been a couple of decades, but Folkways Reporter Connie Kitts found that people are still drawing strength and comfort from this ballad.
The Flood In Hindman, KY
It’s impossible to talk about flooding without acknowledging last year’s historic flooding in eastern Kentucky. The floods killed at least 38 people and damaged some of the region’s cultural centers, including Appalshop in Whitesburg and the Hindman Settlement School.
WFPL’s Stephanie Wolf visited Hindman just after the floods and took stock of what was lost.
Coming Back From Disaster Through Faith And Music
Dean (Dino) McBee cleans old recording equipment damaged in the 2022 floods in Kentucky.
Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
When you spend time in Appalachia and live through a few floods, you tend to notice a recurring theme: neighbors helping neighbors. In Millstone, Kentucky gospel musicians were cut off from participating in part of their culture after they lost instruments. Many found help reconnecting with their music.
Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave brought us this report.
A Poem For A Flooded Town
West Virginia poet Doug Van Gundy at the Hindman Settlement School in Kentucky for the Appalachian Writer’s Workshop in 2022 the night Troublesome Creek flooded.
He shared this poem with us, which was partly inspired by what he saw.
——
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jackson Browne, The Dirty River Boys, Alan “Cathead” Johnston, Dino McBee and Yonder Mountain String Band.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, News Director Eric Douglas speaks with West Virginia Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston. Smith was elected to be the Senate President for the 87th legislature that started this year.
Folkways Reporter Zack Harold recently made a trip to the small town of New Vrindaban, in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. It’s a Hare Krishna community started in the late 60s. These days, the town is home to a few hundred permanent residents, but thousands of pilgrims visit each year. They come to worship in the temple — and to visit the opulent Palace of Gold. But those main attractions were a pretty small part of Zack’s trip. He ended up spending much of his time in the kitchen.
At least two deaths have been attributed to flooding in southern West Virginia, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Tuesday.
Morrisey said that two people died in McDowell County as a result of flooding over th...
On this West Virginia Morning, Deputy Speaker of the House Del. Matt Rohrbach, R-Cabell, discusses the chamber's new processes and the new position of Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery is led by someone with personal experience.