More people than ever were out in eastern Kentucky applying for heating assistance through Kentucky's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP. Officials say this was the busiest year since the program started about 20 years ago.

Burchal Hurt lives in perry county, and says this load of coal could not have come any sooner.

"I was completely, well you see what few blocks was laying there, that's what I had. I was burning a lot of wood, but that wouldn't have lasted me," says Hurt.

Hurt was one of the first in line for help from LKLP's Crisis Component through the LIHEAP. Before noon on the first day, lines wrapped through the halls of the Hazard LKLP building.

Office manager Judy Keen says it is the most desperate year since the program started about 20 years ago.

"The higher prices of food, medicine... well, gas prices have gone down, but a lot of clients have said their food stamps have been cut back, and they're having a hard time adjusting to all that," says Keen.

LIHEAP's Crisis component helps people avoid having their electric of natural gas shut off and helps with the purchase of other materials needed to stay warm.

"They don't have money to buy their coal or wood, or electric bills, and the electric bills have gone up really high too," says Keen.

Hurt says this load of coal will last him through the rest of the winter.

Hurt says, "I don't have to use over a bucket of coal a day, once it gets warm. If I didn't get help from them, I would have been in a tight spot there."

Officials say the heating assistance will be offered through March 31st or until funding runs out. Judy Keen say LKLP served more than 600 people in their four county service area by the end of the day, January 5th.