HAZARD, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear marked the four-year anniversary of devastating floods that killed 45 people across Eastern Kentucky by delivering keys to newly constructed affordable homes for flood victims, signaling continued progress in the region's long recovery.

The governor's visit to Hazard highlighted reconstruction efforts following the July 2022 floods that caused widespread destruction across the mountains, washing away homes, infrastructure and livelihoods in some of Kentucky's most economically vulnerable communities.

The flooding, which struck during a period of intense rainfall, became one of the deadliest natural disasters in Kentucky's recent history. The disaster displaced thousands of residents and damaged thousands of homes, leaving many in temporary housing while recovery efforts moved forward.

Beshear's visit emphasized the state's commitment to rebuilding. The delivery of keys to new homes represents a tangible milestone in a recovery process that has required years of coordination between state agencies, federal assistance programs, nonprofits and local governments. Housing reconstruction has been a central focus of recovery efforts, as many flood victims struggled to rebuild on their own.

The new homes being distributed are designed to be affordable for residents whose lives were upended by the disaster. State and federal funding has supported the construction of replacement housing throughout the affected counties, including Perry, Letcher, Knott and Breathitt counties, among others.

Eastern Kentucky's flood recovery underscores the region's vulnerability to natural disasters and the lengthy timeline required to restore communities after catastrophic events. The milestone also highlights ongoing challenges, as some residents continue to work through recovery processes four years after the flooding.

The governor's appearance in Hazard reaffirmed state leadership's attention to mountain communities still rebuilding, even as recovery efforts have gradually shifted from emergency response to long-term reconstruction and stabilization.