I Reckon: The Kentucky floods will stain the hands of coal companies – Daily Trojan

One of many fondest recollections I’ve of residing within the South is the distinct odor of rain. I may odor it from a mile away. I’m informed it’s a talent that solely Southerners appear to have. The rain introduced life into our home. It referred to as the frogs out of the makeshift pond we had within the entrance yard, watered the terraced rows of snow peas, corn, okra, squash and peppers we had within the yard or rolled off the backs of the chickens that ventured out from the shack they nested in to search for the bugs that will come to the floor. The little creek that ran behind our home would swell however by no means received too excessive.

Wet climate is simply one other reality of life within the South, however in sure circumstances, rain has changed into a demise sentence — one thing hurricane and flood-prone areas of the area, like Louisiana and Florida, are all too conversant in. A pair quick months in the past, rain turned to reckless abandon in a spot just a bit additional inland.

My final natural-diaster-related piece got here out earlier this 12 months after I wrote concerning the tornadoes in Mayfield, Kentucky. It’s to Kentucky the place I return, sadly. It’s been a few months because the japanese a part of the Bluegrass State was struck by heavy rainfall that changed into floodwaters which finally cascaded down these inexperienced mountains quicker than a College of Georgia working again. The flood broken or destroyed houses and communities — about 10,000 of them. It killed not less than 37 individuals. 

I can already hear the sounds of a few of y’all’s eyes rolling to this point into the again of your heads (except you’re an everyday reader — which in that case, you’re my favourite individuals and you’ll ignore this callout). You’re in all probability questioning why you must care about some people on the opposite aspect of the nation. Or, possibly you’re the short-sighted Ben Shapiro-type and also you’re considering, “Why can’t these people simply decide up and transfer in the event that they preserve getting hit with stuff like this?” In any case, we’re all coping with this local weather disaster, proper? 

It issues as a result of, in a single small holler affected by the floods, a Kentucky neighborhood is combating again within the courts. Blackhawk and its subsidiary, Pine Department Mining, are being sued by residents of Breathitt County. The mining firm operates a coal mine on this notably poor neighborhood, already haunted by the darkish cloud of native coal mines which have lengthy been deserted. The neighborhood is alleging that the corporate mismanaged their silt retention ponds, which exacerbated the flood and unleashed contaminated water as a aspect impact. 

It additionally issues as a result of local weather change will all the time affect individuals of shade — in addition to these laid low with poverty — most severely. It’ll hit these that may’t transfer as a result of they will’t afford to, these whose solely supply of wealth could also be within the house they will’t simply up and take with them. 

Whereas wealthy white billionaires are escaping to different planets via the opening that they and their company greed have drilled into the ozone layer, a conservative Supreme Court docket has gutted the Environmental Safety Company’s energy to fight local weather change of their ruling on West Virginia v. EPA. In the meantime, the U.S. authorities continues to twiddle its thumbs. The prospect of a greener, higher world — and a greener, higher South for all — stays bleak. However don’t let our present predicament depress you an excessive amount of.

The truth that Breathitt County residents are already taking it upon themselves to choose a worthwhile and vital struggle with the corporate that has used and disposed of treasured land, whereas additionally making an attempt to choose up the items of what’s left of their livelihoods within the aftermath of the flood, makes their instance all of the extra inspiring. And let me remind you that you needn’t lose all hope in our authorized system as a result of individuals have taken on coal corporations prior to now and gained. So preserve that in thoughts for those who ever need to take your native coal-rolling, pollution-causing enterprise to court docket.

And one other factor: Horrible political figures would possibly signify Kentucky and states prefer it, however don’t you dare let their presence dissuade you from doing one thing for the parents right here. Don’t let any ill-formed thought let you know to brush this off as one thing Kentuckians “deserved” for giving the nation Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul. Come hell or excessive water, we’re going to pay the worth for ignoring these most impacted by local weather change if we select to let electoral maps dictate the place our empathy goes.

Quynh Anh Nguyen is a junior writing concerning the implications of present Southern political occasions. Her column, “I Reckon,” runs each different Tuesday.