Nashville. It's one of those cities that makes you feel right at home. I've grown up here. This place has been my home for 27 years. I appreciate the big-city-but-small-city charm. I have watched Nashville blossom from a quaint, southern town into the country music capital of the world.
If you live here, then you already know ... if you don't, then chances are you probably have heard very little about what is currently going on in our beloved Nashville. On Saturday, May 1st, 2010, we were hit by catastrophic flooding - in what is being considered a 500-year flood. It rained so much in just 2 days, that our expected monthly rainfall for May was already reached. This event was so record-breaking, that nothing this BIG has hit the mid-state since the Civil war, AND more than likely will be the most expensive, non-hurricane disaster in all of American history.
Not one single person, inhabiting Nashville and surrounding cities, has not been affected. EVERYONE has been touched somehow, whether directly or knowing someone who was. Tennesseeans allover were glued to the TV as this terrible storm unfolded. My family and I feel incredibly blessed that we were "lucky" enough to escape with no damage to our cars, houses and most importantly, ourselves.
Aside from the fact that Nashville is experiencing the biggest heartache our sweet town ever has, we don't seem to be getting much national attention. I realize that there was a bomb threat in New York City, and yes there is the oil spill in the Gulf, but let me ask you this: Did anyone die as a result of the bomb threat? And has anyone been directly affected by the oil spill? The answer is no. So as most of Tennessee is trying to put the pieces back together and others are burying loved ones, the nation is completely focused on other news. It wasn't until last night that I finally saw a tid-bit on CNN and a small story on E (which by the way, was not the first breaking story--it came AFTER 3 completely stupid, non-newsworthy celebrity gossip segments). This is so disheartening. I know it's not on the exact same level, but all we heard about for weeks and months was the devastation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. So...why is Nashville not getting the same respect and support???
If you live here, then you already know ... if you don't, then chances are you probably have heard very little about what is currently going on in our beloved Nashville. On Saturday, May 1st, 2010, we were hit by catastrophic flooding - in what is being considered a 500-year flood. It rained so much in just 2 days, that our expected monthly rainfall for May was already reached. This event was so record-breaking, that nothing this BIG has hit the mid-state since the Civil war, AND more than likely will be the most expensive, non-hurricane disaster in all of American history.
Not one single person, inhabiting Nashville and surrounding cities, has not been affected. EVERYONE has been touched somehow, whether directly or knowing someone who was. Tennesseeans allover were glued to the TV as this terrible storm unfolded. My family and I feel incredibly blessed that we were "lucky" enough to escape with no damage to our cars, houses and most importantly, ourselves.
Aside from the fact that Nashville is experiencing the biggest heartache our sweet town ever has, we don't seem to be getting much national attention. I realize that there was a bomb threat in New York City, and yes there is the oil spill in the Gulf, but let me ask you this: Did anyone die as a result of the bomb threat? And has anyone been directly affected by the oil spill? The answer is no. So as most of Tennessee is trying to put the pieces back together and others are burying loved ones, the nation is completely focused on other news. It wasn't until last night that I finally saw a tid-bit on CNN and a small story on E (which by the way, was not the first breaking story--it came AFTER 3 completely stupid, non-newsworthy celebrity gossip segments). This is so disheartening. I know it's not on the exact same level, but all we heard about for weeks and months was the devastation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. So...why is Nashville not getting the same respect and support???
Nashville has lost one of our most important landmarks, Opryland Hotel. I am almost certain that everyone has visited the beautiful hotel during the light displays at Christmas, or stayed there at one point in time. Now that this flood has occurred, hundreds of Gaylord Opryland employees are suddenly out of a job. What about them? The destruction done to this amazing facility is almost unimaginable. When I first saw the photos, it looked like scene out of Titanic; with fancy furniture floating around, fine china shattered, winding staircases submerged underwater. Not to mention the Grand Ole Opry - a staple here in our city!
Downtown Nashville was also damaged - right in the heart of our honky tonks. A place where tourists flock to everyday; a place where every singer/songwriter wannabe dreams of visiting to make it big in country music. Our Titans football arena looks like a bowl of water now. The water from the Cumberland River crested to it's highest level in more than 80 years. Try to imagine this if you haven't seen it for yourself. It's like our precious city was completely enveloped, or maybe swallowed by a mouth of raging water.
Throughout our amazing local news coverage, the one thing that has remained constant and unchanged, is the outpouring of support, love and help from fellow Nashvilleans. Anyone who's visited can say this: Nashville has the most down-home people on the planet. I am filled with so much emotion as I see all the help everyone is offering each other. Good samaritans and the Nashville Fire & Police Departments, rescuing complete strangers by boat and pulling folks out of the water. All the churches and schools housing families who have lost everything. Let's not forget about the human societies who are caring for pets who have lost their families. This kind of effort is what will enable Nashville to rebuild. It's hard to see right now, but someday we will get back to normal; we will get our city back. We just need to stick together, love one another, and give as much to Nashville as it's always given to us. I know we will.
Now you may see why they call us the Volunteer state.
No comments:
Post a Comment