Inside Appalachia: Mentally & Emotionally Recovering from W.Va.’s 1,000 Year Flood

There is more to recovery than physically rebuilding a house, or a building. Communities are also recovering mentally and emotionally. Dr. Carol Smith is a Professor of Counseling at Marshall University, says finding basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter is just the beginning.

Inside Appalachia co-producer and host Jessica Lilly sat down with Dr. Carol Smith to discuss the year of mental and emotional recovery that West Virginia faced since the flooding of June 2016. Parts of this interview are included in a special TV show, “Inside Appalachia: A Year of Recovery.” You can watch the show Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. on WVPB or listen on radio.

In the days and weeks after the flood, the words, “West Virginia strong” rang out on signs and across social media. But Dr. Smith says, if you’re having a hard time coping, even to this day,  it doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you’re human. 

Watch the full interview here: