By Janet MacGillivray | Climate Justice Program Director
Dear Friends of Seeding Sovereignty,
On July 28, 2022, flash floods following a drought in Appalachia caused waters to rise to historic levels in some of the poorest communities of Kentucky and West Virginia, leaving people panicked, stranded without cell service or electricity and fearing the rains forecasted in the days to come. Seeding Sovereignty's Executive Director immediately reached out to lifelong mountaintop removal community organizer and Goldman Prize winning activist Maria Gunnoe on day one of the Central Appalachia Flood that ultimately took the lives of 39 innocent people and created inestimable damage to communities and families who lost everything. As we approach the one year anniversary of the Central Appalachia Flood, recovery is ongoing as communities brace for the potential of another flood.
When asked what was needed, Maria immediately asked Seeding Sovereignty for drones. There was no other way to assist with time sensitive search and rescue efforts. Any attempt to determine the extent of the damage and find people was impossible without witnessing the crisis from above the floods and getting to areas that were otherwise unreachable.
In 2017 Seeding Soveriegnty had started an Indigenous youth drone pilot program after Standing Rock and the historic use of drones to report to the world what was happening on Indigenous lands. As part of our disaster relief efforts in the wake of this historic storm in Appalachia, we launched this GlobalGiving fundraising campaign and revived our Eyes in the Sky drone response program.
And you responded! We want to express our heartfelt "Thank you" for your donations! Your generosity purchased two drones, protective cases, extra batteries for flights over many miles, and more.
One drone package was sent to help flood impacted communities in Kentucky and the other was sent to help flood impacted communities in West Virginia. Immediately, the flooding could be seen from the sky rather than pockets of panicked, cut off communities. The breadth of the emergency and the vastness of the response needed could be grasped and strategically planned for by and with trusted community members and lifelong leaders.
In one incident, the drones uncovered some sewage lines destroyed by the flood that were still rupturing - threatening the health of unknowing families. The clear and credible emergency film footage provided to local news channels by our youth drone pilots received immediate coverage that brought direct action to fix the rupture. Other drone footage will be used to help families who lost all their belongings to be able to ask for support and even change insurance laws. As Maria shared, “What we can now see makes it crystal clear why the flooding in Eastern Kentucky was so much worse than it should have been."
We are thrilled to share that the donated drones are also healing community members - in particular, the youths. Appalachian community youths inherited barren landscapes instead of rolling mountains, ghost towns instead of thriving communities and a destroyed economy with few job prospects. Education opportunities are scarce. We plan to develop our drone pilot program with job opportunities for communities that need help. We are committed to long-term recovery and advocacy in Appalachia where fossil fuel extraction is ongoing and extreme weather events will likely return.
While the flood drone footage documented how much land has been destroyed, we are also happy to share with you that these youth activists have documented some of the remaining beauty and resilience of the mountains they call home. Tragically, much of the past mountainscape wasn’t documented before it was destroyed, living only in the memories of Elders who have passed on, but what remains is worth fighting for. They, and we, are inspired to fight harder to protect these lands and waters from fossil fuel extraction. The youth inherit too much, but let them also inherit hope. The remaining beauty of our planet can inspire that, and the drones showed them how much is yet living.
Our work in Appalachia is not done. Your support has been critical in ensuring the safety and well-being of the flood impacted Appalachian families - thank you! With your help, we will be sending additional drones and pay costs for youth training, insurance and more to prepare the communities in advance of possible flooding this summer. One warning was enough, and we owe it to those who lost their lives to be ready.
Thank you again for making this possible. Your donations made a very tangible difference to many. We will continue our work with Maria and the youths for the communities in Appalachia and to grow our "Eyes in the Sky"youth drone pilot program. We would sincerely appreciate your sharing this "Eyes in the Sky" GlobalGiving campaign with others as we work to raise needed funds.
To stay up to date and to learn more about what we are growing, please join our new newsletter!
Walking together,
The Seeding Sovereignty Team
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