The Southern Appalachians could be lost soon by floodwaters say scientists.
The Southern Appalachians have been dominating news headlines as global warming has created more moisture in the atmosphere, which falls in buckets of rain on some very vulnerable areas. The Guardian warned that these areas are likely doomed as homes are built in the only flatland around, creek and river beds, where rushing torrents of floodwaters can kill anyone in their path.
Two years after 45 people died in the 2022 floods, the scale of disaster grew with Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 230 people with almost half the deaths in Appalachia, after days of relentless rain turned calm streams into unstoppable torrents.
Troublesome Creek is a 40-mile narrow tributary of the north fork of the Kentucky River, which, like many waterways across southern Appalachia, does not have a single gauge. Yet these rural mountain hollers are getting slammed over and over by catastrophic flooding – and landslides – as the climate crisis increases rainfall across the region and warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico turbocharge storms.
Kentucky just got one of many #FAFO moments for this storm season. Betcha regret voting for Trump and his Project 2025 agenda. Voting Has Consequences and You are going to experience those over and over again with flooding, tornadoes, wind events, hailstorms & fires. Enjoy your Spring & Summer MAGA!
— A Patriot Disobedient to MAGA (@dontbowtheknee.bsky.social) 2025-05-19T21:28:11.536Z
The extreme weather is making life unbearable and economically unviable for a chronically underserved region where coal was once king, and climate skepticism remains high. Yet little is known about flooding in the Appalachian region. It’s why the geologists – also called earth scientists – got involved.
“This is where most people are going to die unless we create reliable warning systems and model future flood risks for mitigation and to help mountain communities plan for long-term resilience. Otherwise, these extreme flooding events could be the end of southern Appalachia,” said Thigpen.
Our climate is in a downward spiral and has been for years. The world had been warned for generations by scientists that we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels and protect all of Earth's systems to sustain life. Collectively, we have chosen death instead. In Kentucky and other coal-dependent states, climate denial is rampant, and climate impacts, particularly flooding, which is more frequent, powerful, and deadly, have arrived. It will only get worse as the planet heats.
Another warning ignored, Trump and his goons and donors control the country, and compassion and scientific data are not in their vocabulary. They are unlikely to help anyone, even in the most conservative of red states, such as Kentucky, where their support is strongest.
This sucks so bad. I left my home state over a year ago and always sort of envisioned myself moving back eventually. These cuts combined with cuts to the USFS feel like a final nail in the coffin of that idea
— molly (@bugmom.bsky.social) 2025-05-19T20:49:01.750Z
One survivor mentioned that she was unaware that Trump had slashed FEMA and ended the atmospheric science that provides the hollows of Appalachia with warnings about floods. The cult leader they worship has left them to suffer and die, and they do not even know it.
We are all on our own; no one is coming to save us.