The headline in Monday’s Tennessean read simply, “Overwhelmed.”
Fourteen inches of rain in two days will do that to a city.
And it’s easy to feel that way yourself when you see entire neighborhoods under water. When a grotesquely swollen river swallows your city’s most recognizable landmarks. When the inventories of entire lives sit ruined at the curb. When you learn that at least eighteen of your neighbors have lost their lives, swept away by the unstoppable water.
In Lewis’ Nashville office, we feel incredibly fortunate that everyone here came through this catastrophe relatively unscathed. I’ve never felt so lucky to have a leaky roof.
As the floodwaters recede, the clean up begins. Despite the once-in-a-thousand years nature of this devastating flood, my hope is that what we remember is how the people of Nashville and Middle Tennessee came together to care for each other.
My fellow Tennesseans apparently have the same hope. Volunteer organization Hands On Nashville’s website has crashed several times this week because so many people want to sign up and help. On Monday morning, the Davidson County Animal Shelter let it be known that they needed food for animals rescued from the flood. By Monday evening, the pile of donated pet food blocked the halls and reached the ceiling. And, this being Music City, shows benefiting flood victims are popping up at venues all over town. The Volunteer State has never deserved its nickname more than it does right now.
But we can always use a few more extra hands.
To donate your time:
Hands On Nashville
All Metro Nashville relief efforts are being run through this organization.
www.hon.org
twitter.com/HONashville
Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest needs volunteers to sort food and transport meals for the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. They also need monetary donations.
volunteer@secondharvestmidtn.org
www.secondharvestmidtn.org
twitter.com/2HarvestMidTn
To donate money:
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
www.cfmt.org/floodrelief/
twitter.com/CFMT
Middle Tennessee Red Cross
Text “RedCross” to 90999 to donate $10 to flood relief. This charge will show up on your phone bill.
www.nashvilleredcross.org
twitter.com/NashRedCross
