(photo courtesy of Tennessean photographer John Partipilo)
First of all, my family is safe and sound. Might be a little wet and without clean water and electricity, might even have lost a 2 month old hot water heater that shorted out, caught fire and could have burned the house down, but we are very, very blessed. Thank you all for the kind thoughts, prayers and well wishes.
For the remainder of middle Tennessee, we experienced unprecedented floods this past weekend, closing most school systems and excusing non-essential personnel at many businesses on Monday and beyond. Pummeled with rain for 48 hours, many areas around Nashville received 17.5 inches, about half of the average annual total rainfall and more rain seen in a two day period since records have been kept. Noah and his ark saw the only flood deeper than this in these parts!
The Cumberland River crested at 52 1/2 feet, the highest I've ever known. More than $2 billion in damages occurred. The last I heard 32 lives were lost with at least 2 people still missing. As the water recedes, farm animal carcasses remain rotting high up in trees. Nearly 20,000 homes were destroyed and 100,000s of people are left homeless.
It is the single largest disaster to hit middle Tennessee since the Civil War. It is estimated to be the costliest non-hurricane natural disaster in US history. Parts of town that have never been in a flood zone are unconceivably under deep water.
(photo courtesy of John Stanford)
A tow truck driver tries to hook up a car covered with debris on I-24.
(photo courtesy of AP/ Will Smith)
I-40 has flooded in numerous locations and was subsequently closed.
(Video courtesy WTVF - Nashville, TN)
A portable building floats down a flooded Interstate 24 before breaking apart near Bell Road.
Several area hospitals flooded and affected units were evacuated. Hundreds and hundreds of homes and cars were completely under water. Emergency management performed more than 600 water rescues. MetroCenter, LP Field, the Opry House, the Country Music Hall of fame, Schermerhorn Symphony Hall, and other downtown businesses and attractions along with the Opryland Hotel were evacuated and are now under water. Roads and railroad tracks washed away. The structural integrity of bridges have been compromised. The clean water supply is in jeopardy and residents have been asked to conserve by half.
Naomi Judd, resident of Leiper's Fork, reports her farm is flooded, fences are down, and buffalo have escaped. Sorry I don't have a picture for this one. Keith Urban lost all of his road equipment and guitars in storage. Kenny Chesney's riverfront home is underwater and he lost priceless sports memorabilia. Deirks Bentley has been seen bailing water from his home. Ironically Brad Paisley lost much of his touring equipment and is frantically working to get it replaced or restored to begin his concert tour later this month, aptly named H2O. It's affected everyone.
It's being called a 1000 year flood.
Prayers and donations to the American Red Cross are appreciated! Text "REDCROSS" to 90999, and $10 will be donated to help in aiding the storm victims.
I'm very proud of my hometown. You won't find middle Tennesseans looting and making the national news. You will find neighbors helping neighbors, and I use "neighbor" in the broadest sense. Most people have never met those they are helping, and they still grab a broom or donate up to $500,000 to aid in the relief effort. Despite the torrential rains and flooding, Nashville is a GREAT place to live.
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Charm of the Carolines is participating in a few blog parties today. Join the fun!
Blue Monday
New Nostalgia
Outdoor Wednesday
Boardwalk Bradfest
Always Nesting
Alphabet Thursday
