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March 04, 2021

Flooding Affects Kentucky Promo Firms

Promotional product professionals are dealing with harrowing personal and professional fallout from the massive flooding.

By  Christopher Ruvo

Rhonda Stamper is in the thick of it.

The owner of Sportees, an apparel decorating business in Jackson, KY, has experienced firsthand the effects of massive flooding in Kentucky that, in recent days, has inundated homes and businesses, washed out roadways and compromised public water systems.

“I spent the last two days helping my parents clean up from the flood damage in their house,” said Stamper. “We spent the night worrying about my aunt, who was in a trailer without electricity, heat, water or cell service. She was alone. Fire and rescue couldn’t reach her due to (swift-moving) water.”

And that wasn’t all. Stamper’s niece was under mandatory evacuation orders because of fears a dam would burst and rushing waters would overwhelm her subdivision. “Her house was already flooded,” said Stamper. “Humanity is the priority right now. Helping neighbors get to shelters, donating good clothes, doing whatever is needed.”

Stamper is among the promotional products industry professionals dealing with harrowing personal and professional fallout from flooding that had led, as of this writing, a reported 49 counties in Kentucky to issue disaster declarations. Driven by days of downpours that deluged areas of the Bluegrass State with a reported 4 to 7 inches of rain, rivers and other waterways have gone roaring over their banks.

The water has begun to recede in many locales, but some locations were still rising toward dangerous crests as of Wednesday, March 3. When all is said and done, some areas will have reached historic levels of inundation. The South Fork of the Kentucky River at Booneville in Owsley County, for instance, reached a record water level, cresting at a reported 44.3 feet. “This is going to be one that goes into the record books,” Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett said in a news conference late Tuesday afternoon.

The nearby Kentucky cities of Beattyville and Booneville are among the hard-hit areas. Beattyville, for instance, lies at the convergence of three forks of the Kentucky River. It was underwater this week due to flooding.

Laura Thorpe has seen some of the devastation up close. She’s the owner of Robots in Disguise Design & Apparel, a Booneville-based company that specializes in screen printing, embroidery and graphic design. “Many people I know have lost everything,” said Thorpe. “Some are close friends or fellow business owners who have lost their life’s work. It’s a completely heartbreaking situation.”

While Thorpe has personally escaped the worst, there have been effects on her business, too. “Because people are stranded, they’re not able to pick up orders,” she said. “The great losses people have experienced will keep them from ordering. As such, I anticipate a reduction in orders all around. This may cause long-term impacts.”

Still, Thorpe is doing her part to help her community. She’s heading an effort with her church to gather and distribute donations to anyone in need. “It’s going well so far,” Thorpe reported. “There is a great need and we’re looking for ways to get food, water, personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies into the area.”

Gina Rose, vice president of Martin, KY-based distributor Shirt Gallery LLC (asi/325856), said the business was not flooded but that high water prevented her and the team from reaching the location for two days. “During this time, we were closed and unable to receive shipments or process and ship orders,” Rose said. “We did work remotely to stay in contact with our vendors and customers via message, email and phone.”

Rose noted that the flooding came shortly after ice storms and associated power outages that had left some Kentucky communities without power for nearly two weeks. As a result of the weather-related disruptions, sales could suffer for a time, she said. “Our business depends heavily on regional events, schools and businesses,” Rose said. “A good percentage of those will be spending the next few weeks and months cleaning and building back up.”

Some promo firms are already experiencing lost opportunities. “Several of our customers were flooded, and this canceled events that were already questionable and impaired deliveries,” said Cindi Ward, of Shelbyville, KY, distributor Layne & Associates (asi/250355). “Many places are still underwater and preparing to view the damage. I am sure that there will be long-term impacts. Our thoughts and prayers are with those in the direct path and also for those that will be affected after it all dries up.”

Brian Derickson, owner of Derickson Graphics, a screen printing and embroidery company in Stanton, KY, said that many of his neighbors, family members and customers are dealing with what he described as “extreme difficulty” as a result of the flooding. “The short-term effects to my business will be less orders because this flooding is region-wide and many businesses, schools and churches are closed this week,” Derickson said. Still, Derickson is optimistic about the prospects for his business – and the community.

“I do not anticipate any long-lasting fallout,” he said. “As the water recedes, people are cleaning their homes and businesses. We are resilient. If the sun shines, we will be cleaning hard and returning to business as normal as quickly as possible.”

Rose also sounded an optimistic note.

“We are resilient Appalachians,” she said. “Overcoming obstacles and problem-solving is what we do. It’s ingrained in us from birth. The sun is shining on us today. We will take all of the hope that it provides and look forward to brighter days ahead.”

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