Bobby Redd grew up in the area, but spent most of his adult life in Orlando, FL and Charleston, WV. He moved back to McDowell to be closer to his parents, and two weeks later his parents home was flooded.

Bobby is gentle, quick witted, and generous. He welcomed us into his home and gave us snacks and drinks as we talked.

Michaela Mast and Harrison Horst, the Shifting Climates hosts, stand outside of Bobby Redd’s home where SWAP (a local volunteer organization) is working on reconstructing his porch.

This house is the headquarters for SWAP (Sharing With Appalachian People) in McDowell County, West Virgina. SWAP is a volunteer organization that helps local families rebuild their homes.

SWAP aims to educate their volunteers about Appalachian history, break down stereotypes, and open new relationships. The understanding of service demonstrated at SWAP is one that is reciprocal; it emphasized how much we gain from those we think we are serving.

Inside the SWAP house, encouraging words cover the walls; quotes from Mother Theresa and Gandhi line the hallways, and banners from past youth groups hang over the banisters.

Ya’sou Restaurant is the only restaurant in Kimball, WV. The building has been rebuilt twice after being destroyed by the 2001-2002 floods. Ya’sou is a symbol of stubbornness and hope in McDowell County.

Markella Gianato, owner of Ya’sou Restaurant.

Podcast hosts Michaela Mast and Harrison Horst stand outside with owner Markella Gianato.

The inside of Ya’sou Restaurant.

Markella stands outside her restaurant, soaking in the summer sun.

Pictures lining the wall of the restaurant show owner Markella’s parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren. Milestones for the family and for the store are documented on the walls.

This photo shows Ya’sou Restaurant during one of two devastating floods in the early 2000’s. It hangs on the wall of the restaurant–a reminder of the obstacles the Gianato’s have faced and their persistence in making this place home.

We met Durga Sunchiuri in Goshen, Indiana, where he was touring with the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions speaking about climate change.

Durga is from Kathmandu, Nepal, and told us stories of devastating floods and unreliable weather patterns.