Red Cross Responds to Kentucky Floods

woman in tan shirt hugs woman in Red Cross vest in disaster shelter

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Betty Higgins arrived at a Red Cross shelter in Hazard, Kentucky, just over a week ago after massive floodwaters devastated her community. As Betty begins the difficult journey of rebuilding her life after losing everything, she finds comfort in knowing the Red Cross is by her side, helping her on the path to recovery. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

woman in Red Cross vest and jeans looks out over a destroyed mobile home

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All of Kentucky’s 120 counties reported flooding after the state received more than a month’s worth of rain in less than 24 hours, damaging homes and businesses across the region, followed immediately by freezing temperatures complicating the devasting impact for residents in the affected areas. Red Crossers are on the ground across Kentucky, assessing damage, working with community partners and local emergency management, and providing hot meals, a safe place to stay and other support to residents impacted by flooding. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

two men in dark jackets in front of a table get a warm meal from woman in Red Cross vest serving food from behind the table

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Donald Hall receives a warm meal in an American Red Cross shelter after devastating floods hit his Eastern Kentucky community just over a week ago. All of Kentucky’s 120 counties reported flooding after the state received more than a month’s worth of rain in less than 24 hours, damaging homes and businesses across the region. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

two men in dark pants and Red Cross vests walk through damaged neighborhood

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All of Kentucky’s 120 counties reported flooding after the state received more than a month’s worth of rain in less than 24 hours, damaging homes and businesses across the region. Here, Red Cross volunteers perform damage assessment. This work will help us to better understand what support families could need in the future. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

a man and woman in Red Cross vests with woman in rain boots and old clothes talk in front of piles of items removed from the damaged home in the background

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American Red Cross volunteers comfort Sadie Justice as she returns to her flooded home in Eastern Kentucky after massive floodwaters hit her community just over a week ago. Red Crossers are on the ground across Kentucky, assessing damage, working with community partners and local emergency management, and providing hot meals, a safe place to stay and other support to residents impacted by flooding. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

Two women sit and talk in a disaster shelter, one in black shirt and one in Red Cross vest

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Red Cross volunteer Tammy Fluharty checks in with Donna Sloan at the Red Cross shelter in Pike County, Kentucky. Donna and her son lost everything when floodwaters inundated their home. Red Cross volunteers were able to give them a warm, safe place to stay and replace her son’s medication. Red Cross photo by Scott Dalton

A man and woman check on another man resting on a cot in a Red Cross disaster shelter

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(From left) Volunteers Dr. Jeffrey Blackwell and Tracy Sharpe, a Red Cross Nurse, check on Steven Honeycutt at the Red Cross shelter in Pike County, Kentucky. “I do this to help the individuals involved in these disasters when nobody else is there to help them,” said Tracy. “Many people have lost their medications or medical equipment, so we’re able to help get that replaced.” Red Cross photo by Scott Dalton

A woman in a Red Cross vest with a stethoscope checks on a young woman in a disaster shelter

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Red Cross Nurse Adama Tall checks on Sadie Preston at the Red Cross shelter in Pike County, Kentucky. “The Red Cross has helped me use my skills to give back to the community,” Adama said. “I comfort people and tell them, ‘the fact that you’re safe – that’s the most important thing.” Red Cross photo by Scott Dalton

March 03, 2025

Red Cross responding to a major disaster as often as every 15 days.

Hundreds of American Red Cross workers from across the country are helping people in Kentucky after the devastating flooding there. The Red Cross is providing hot meals, safe shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, health services and financial assistance.

Since this response effort began, the Red Cross and partners have provided more than 2,800 overnight shelter stays and almost 35,000 meals and snacks.

Red Crossers are fanning out through the hardest hit areas to offer hot meals and critical relief supplies like rakes, shovels and trash bags to help families clean up their homes. People can also connect with the Red Cross at one of the many Disaster Recovery Centers open across the Bluegrass state.

As the Red Cross assesses residential damage, we’re also reaching out to eligible households to offer financial assistance. If you receive a message or call from a Red Cross representative, please follow the steps outlined in that message or visit redcross.org/floodsKY to learn more.

Please be aware of scams or people posing as Red Cross representatives. You will receive an invitation via email or text based on your contact information the Red Cross has for you. If you're unsure whether the Red Cross has reached out, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).

We encourage anyone who needs a place to stay or a warm meal to come to a Red Cross shelter. Find shelter information on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). You can also find information by following your local Red Cross and local emergency officials on social media, signing up for free emergency alerts from your local government or by monitoring local news.

Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability or citizenship status. All disaster assistance is free. We don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and where they were living before the disaster.

THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Donate to Disaster Relief. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.
Become a Red Cross volunteer. The need to help during a disaster has never been greater. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to learn more about some of our most needed volunteer positions.
Give blood. Dangerous snow and ice conditions have caused more than 25,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected since the beginning of the year. People of all blood types — especially those with type O negative blood and those giving platelets — are needed. Find a donation opportunity and schedule an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org, 1-800-RED CROSS or the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.