Between July 25 and July 30, 2022, a series of complex thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall, deadly flash flooding, and devastating river flooding to eastern Kentucky and central Appalachia. The historic, 1,000-year flooding event severely damaged or washed away residential water meters throughout the Letcher County Water and Sewer District (LCWSD).

Under the leadership of Letcher County Judge-Executive Terry Adams and with support from Congressman Hal Rogers through a congressional appropriation administered by the United States Department of Agriculture–Rural Development (USDA-RD), LCWSD utilized assistance from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) to prepare and submit a funding application to USDA-RD for disaster grant assistance.

The Flood Damage Meter Replacement Project was awarded $2,571,000 in USDA-RD disaster grant funding made available through the congressional appropriation. Construction began in April 2026 and was completed in August 2026, resulting in the installation of approximately 3,000 residential water meters.

Through the combined efforts of local leadership, Congressman Hal Rogers, USDA-Rural Development, and RCAP, a significant community need was addressed, and critical water service was strengthened for the future. This partnership-driven approach not only helped Letcher County recover from a historic disaster but also reinforced the community’s ability to withstand and respond to future challenges while continuing to provide safe, reliable drinking water to its citizens for years to come.

In photo from left to right: Chris Wells of RCAP, Lesli Gill of USDA RD, Chris Back of KRADD, Travis Burton – USDA RD State Director, Judge-executive Terry Adams, LCWSD General Manager Jason Lewis, Andrea Begley of Congressman Roger’s office, and Kimberly Padgett of RCAP