UK HealthCare Employees Gathering Supplies for Flood Victims

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 22, 2015) — UK HealthCare employees are collecting supplies to assist with relief efforts in Johnson County after flash floods swept through the area July 14.

On July 22 and July 23, faculty, staff and employees at UK HealthCare are encouraged to donate rescue and cleanup supplies at one of four locations on the medical campus. Donations will be transported to the Johnson County Relief Center, which is assisting members of the Flat Gap community who were affected by the flood. More than 150 homes were destroyed by the floodwaters, with hundreds more damaged by water and debris. After two people died from drowning in floodwaters, officials continue to search for several residents of Flat Gap who were reported missing during the flood.

Jessica LaRue, a native of the flood-prone city of Inez in Martin County, realized the immense devastation of the July 14 flood through photos and posts on Facebook. LaRue works in the Department of Pediatrics at UK HealthCare, and coordinated the donation drive in collaboration with the help of UK HealthCare administrative leadership.

Items requested for the relief effort include:

·      Fans and extension cords

·      Water hoses

·      Laundry detergent

·      Pillows

·      Towels

·      Washcloths

·      Blankets

·      Large trash cans

·      Heavy-duty trash bags and work gloves

·      Coolers

·      Boots

·      Large zip lock bags and paper plates

Drop off stations are located in the North Lobby of Pavilion H in the UK Chandler Hospital from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for night shift employees at the Pavilion H Information Desk from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 22 and July 23. Donations will be accepted at a station in Room CC401B on the fourth floor of the Markey Cancer Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. UK Good Samaritan employees can drop off donations at the administrative offices on the ground floor.

MEDIA CONTACT: Elizabeth Adams, elizabethadams@uky.edu