Climate remembrance: Tony Calhoun survived the water, but not the flood

Editor’s note: The following story deals with suicide. If you have suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889).

Tony Calhoun was a screenwriter, actor and lifelong resident of a small town in eastern Kentucky. He lost everything in a climate-driven flash flood in 2022 and took his own life shortly thereafter. His death was officially attributed to the flood by state authorities. His fiancee remembers him and talks about trying to prevent other deaths like his. Research suggests suicide is relatively common after weather disasters, but is not nationally tracked.

NPR’s Rebecca Hersher joins host Deepa Fernandes to remember Calhoun.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.