Appalachian cultural center reeling from historic flooding

WHITESBURG, Ky. (AP) — A cultural center known for chronicling Appalachian life is cleaning up and assessing its losses. Like much of its stricken region, Appalshop has been swamped by historic flooding. The water inundated downtown Whitesburg in southeastern Kentucky, causing extensive damage to the renowned repository of Appalachian history and culture. Some losses are likely permanent, after raging waters soaked or swept away some of Appalshop’s treasure trove of historic material. That includes archives documenting the region’s past. Appalshop executive director Alex Gibson says it’s “gut-wrenching” to see the damage. But sounding the same note as others in the region, he says Appalshop will recover.