A group of 60 organizations and elected officials across the Appalachian region have sent an open letter to Congress urging the support of investments for flood recovery and resilience in their communities.

The effects of climate change in the region have led to the need for decisive action to help withstand the increase in dangerous flooding events. 

The letter states: "Appalachian communities are home to rich assets — including our land, water, heritage, and people — and many of our organizations and local governments are working to leverage these assets as we diversify and strengthen our local economies."

The letter details the specific investments needed to help communities cope with the realities of historic disinvestment alongside a changing energy and economic landscape. It also urges support for federal programs investing in flood resiliency, workforce development, and worker protections, support for working families, protections for coal communities, and economic development.

It calls on Congress to protect these investments from cuts and ensure that the agencies implementing these programs are properly funded.

"In order for new investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other federal funding to be successful," said ReImagine Appalachia, Senior Program Manager, Dana Kuhnline, "we have to make sure that the agencies that implement them have the funding to operate. Investing in programs like cleaning up abandoned mines and scaling up renewable energy without giving the agencies the funding they need to implement them is like building a car but not putting an engine in it."

"The problems that Appalachia faces are complex and interconnected," Kuhnline continued. "We need a holistic, comprehensive approach to these issues, and that's what this letter represents."