Beautiful Nashville is underwater.
Our house is safely perched on a hill, so we are staying dry. However, many homes and business in the city are experiencing catastrophic flooding.
Paul and I were driving home from visiting my grandmother in Kentucky yesterday when we first started hearing about the flooding. As we drove down I-65, we started reading tweets about cars submerged in water on Interstate 24. We made it home without incident after a quick stop at the store. I kept my eyes on Twitter and the news, but I wasn’t prepared for what was to come today.
Franklin and Bellevue are flooded. Hundreds of people are being rescued by boat. The Cumberland River is about to overflow into downtown Nashville.
What on earth? This is Nashville, not New Orleans or New Braunfels. We don’t flood like this.
We are doing this with our own Nashville flavor, however. Wynonna Judd’s buffalo have escaped their fence and are wandering around Lieper’s Fork. Scores of songs are being written and re-written about the event.
Most of my family and friends are safe, with a few experiencing (relatively) minor basement flooding and power outages. I think the pervasive feeling among those who are safe is a mix of gratitude and helplessness. I know that’s my current state of mind. I so want to help, but I imagine the best thing for me to do is stay off the streets and pray. There are trained first responders out there right now helping those in need — the rest of us will be essential in days and weeks to come, providing support to those who have lost everything.
An event like this is so humbling, especially for a control freak like me. Before and during our trip to Europe I constantly worried about the air travel, wondering if we would be safe. Looks like I was safer in the air than I would be in several parts of Nashville tonight.
If you are in the Middle Tennessee area, remember to stay in touch with friends and keep up-to-date with the news. Just tonight a water conservation warning has been issued; Metro had to shut down one of their water treatment plants.
If you are eager to help, you can volunteer with Hands On Nashville or donate via The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. If it is safe for you to walk around your neighborhood in the morning, consider checking on neighbors (especially the elderly and disabled) to see if anyone has lost power or needs help.
I hope you all stay safe tonight, wherever you are!
