Pre-Summer Post

Hello all!

I am returning to Appalachia this summer, but this time as a Center Director- so things will be a little different.  One of which is that I already know where I'll be spending the summer!  I will be in Morgan County, Kentucky which is a county where ASP has NEVER been.  (This is pretty unusual)  One of the reasons we are expanding there is the recent tornadoes that went through the area at the beginning of March, 2012.  From talking to my PM (Program Manager... aka boss) and browsing the internet, the devastation from the tornado seems huge.  Apparently the courthouse in West Liberty (the main town in the county, where we will be staying) was completely destroyed, and we are having trouble getting in touch with a bank in the area since phone lines are still down.  The hardware store may also be out of operation, in which case we would get lumber and supplies delivered from another county.

All of this should make for a summer unlike any I have had so far.  I am a little nervous, but also excited about the challenge.  The construction will be different and there will be many other relief organizations still in the area that we will be working with.  We will be staying at an elementary school in West Liberty, where there are currently no showers, so we will be installing temporary ASP ones!  I will be posting more as I hear- please google the tornado, the pictures of the damage are incredible.

-K