FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2026
CONTACT: Dana Kuhnline, 513 601 9854, [email protected]
APPALACHIA – Today, the Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition hosted a virtual event on how to strengthen regional flood resilience by scaling up nature-based hazard mitigation efforts.
“In general across the U.S., our infrastructure is pretty old, it’s getting older, and it’s not built to withstand climate impacts and the extreme weather events that we are seeing, especially in Appalachia. In contrast, natural systems are often more resilient, and adapted, and have the capacity to withstand and recover from climate-fueled disasters.” – Jessica Arriens, Senior Program Manager, Climate & Energy Policy at National Wildlife Federation.
Much of Appalachia’s landscape has been left bare by industrial clearing. During storms, rainwater speeds unobstructed down mountain slopes and collects in the valleys where most communities are located (often along rivers). In turn, devastating floods can occur. On this webinar, experts discussed municipal best practices and available funding for creating community green sinks and replanting native species to serve as a buffer against rapid inundation.
“Working with the local government, I know a lot of people think, okay, the government’s going to solve all the problems. In Floyd County, we have been blessed with having community involved. I recommend that folks get your local people involved early in the process. For us, it’s been phenomenal how everyone’s working together.” – Missy Allen, Special Projects Director at the Floyd County Fiscal Court.
You can watch the full recording of the event here: “Nature-Based Hazard Mitigation: Approaches for Flood Resiliency in Appalachia”.
“The long-term goal with the forest reclamation approach is restoring economic value to these post-mining lands through establishing succession of native forests, but I’d also like to say there’s a lot of value in restoring these lands to forests for things like flood control.” – Steven Price, Chair, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Professor of Stream and Riparian Ecology, University of Kentucky.
Event Presenters:
- Moderator: Jessica Arriens, Senior Program Manager, Climate & Energy Policy for National Wildlife Federation
- Steven Price, Chair, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Professor of Stream and Riparian Ecology, University of Kentucky
- Zak Ruehman, Director of Engineering Services, Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems IRIS from the University of Georgia
- Missy Allen, Special Projects Director, Floyd County Fiscal Court
About The Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition
The Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition works to connect organizations across Appalachia committed to building a more flood-resilient region.