Franklin Graham dedicates 18 homes to Kentucky flood survivors before Christmas
Standing in the snow on a mountaintop in eastern Kentucky on Friday, the Rev. Franklin Graham dedicated 18 newly built homes in Jesus’ name to families who lost everything in the area’s 2022 catastrophic floods; Survivors described this moment as the first real breath of relief they had taken in three years.
“I’m Franklin Graham,” he says in a Fox News Digital exclusive video. “A few years ago the terrible flood here destroyed hundreds of houses. Today we are dedicating 18 houses that are finished and ready for people to move in.”
The homes are part of the new 57-neighbourhood Chestnut Ridge subdivision, built from the ground up by Samaritan’s Purse and an army of volunteers.
“We are grateful to God,” Graham continues. “We couldn’t do this without our partners who provide land, funding and volunteers. These people will be home for Christmas.”
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The Rev. Franklin Graham shares a joyful moment with homebuyer Paul Johnson, who can now register for a lung transplant with a permanent address after being displaced by years of flooding. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)
Flood survivor Lora Honycutt gave a raw, unfiltered videotaped account of the moment she stepped into her new home.
“When I walk into this house… the floors don’t sink,” Honeycutt said, wiping his eyes. “Even the smell is different… I can’t explain this feeling.”
Through her tears, she added, “These are happy tears… These are happy tears.”
Video clips showed families devastated as they crossed the threshold of what was their first structurally sound home since deadly floods decimated entire communities three years ago.
For Paul Johnson, this dedication was life-changing. When floods destroyed his home, he lost the permanent address he needed to stay on the lung transplant list.
“I was taken off the list when I moved into the trailer. I can go back on the transplant list after today,” Johnson said. “This house is beyond anything I expected. It’s beautiful. I feel so lucky. It’s a wonderful day.”
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The Chestnut Ridge subdivision in eastern Kentucky includes 18 homes for survivors of the 2022 floods that devastated the area. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)
Chestnut Ridge homes have two, three or four bedrooms, with one notable exception. A family with 10 children owns the only five-bedroom home in the new subdivision after spending 1,128 nights stuck in two campers since losing everything in the flood.
“We were grateful to have a place to lay our heads,” the mother said, “but it was even more aggravating…we were all on top of each other other.”
As he looked at his new five-bedroom house, he couldn’t help but say: “We are so confused, I don’t know what to do. We can breathe!”
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Pastor Graham of Samaritan’s Purse prays and dedicates 18 homes in Eastern Kentucky to survivors of the deadly 2022 flood. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)
Former U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft and her husband Joe, CEO of coal mining company Alliance Resource Partners, donated the land on which the new neighborhood was built.
Graham also spoke highly of the employees at Hazard, Kentucky, and Lowe’s; Some of them volunteered on construction crews.
Samaritan’s Purse has built nearly 100 homes across Kentucky, from tornado-ravaged Mayfield to devastated communities to the east. Crews are also continuing rebuilding efforts in North Carolina, which continues to be impacted by Hurricane Helene.
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As snow fell on the mountaintop, Graham prayed for families to have brand new homes that no longer forget the memories of the 2022 floods.
“We praise God and thank Him, and of course these people will be home for Christmas,” Graham said as he looked at the rows of new homes.
