Over the course of two days, 1st and 2nd May 2010, the middle Tennessee area experienced the equivalent of 2 months of rainfall.  The unrelenting rains devastated multiple neighborhoods and left thousands stranded.  Local emergency management teams mobilized and joined with local volunteers to react to the intensity of the disaster.  I heard no reports of looting.  Although the waters are receding, it will be many months before some of the impacted neighborhoods and businesses can recover.

My family and I are all fine.  We were very fortunate not to have experienced any personal tragedies or property damage.  There were many who were not so fortunate. 

I avoided the downtown area until Tuesday, even though it was not the most affected area.  We finally had to make a trip there for a business need and I took the opportunity to take a few photos.  But please be aware that as bad as the conditions were downtown, the worst devastation occurred in multiple residential areas around Nashville.

The photo above is the Nashville Riverfront after a typical heavy rain (click on the photo to enlarge).

This photo was taken on Tuesday, 4 May 2010.  The waters had already receded a few feet from the crest after the flood.  Note that the water is all the way up to the street (1st Avenue).  The boat to the left could be seen from street level.  Typically you could only see the tips of masts and radio antennae.

I know there was a lot of local (and some national) television  coverage that documented the magnitude of the devastation; but I think this video by local still photographer Michael Deppisch does a pretty good job of capturing a slice of the feel of the event– Nashville Flood Video.

Since a flood of this intensity is extremely rare in this area, most of the neighborhoods affected were not able to obtain flood insurance.  If you would like to help, Hands On Nashville  and Nashville Red Cross will accept donations.

Until next time,

Dwight