Nashville: The disaster America ignored?

posted at 9:30 am on May 6, 2010 by Ed Morrissey

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has drawn plenty of media attention, and for good reason. It touches on environmental, energy, and competence issues for the American government, and it has cost eleven people their lives. Can we clean up a major spill from an offshore drilling rig? If we can’t stop it from spewing oil quickly, our entire energy policy and the idea of energy independence could be at risk, at least politically.

However, the national media has overlooked another disaster in Nashville. Torrential rains have flooded a major American city, causing over a billion dollars in damage, which puts the crisis among the most expensive natural disasters in American history. Except for a couple of brief mentions, hardly any attention at all has been paid to it at all. Perhaps that’s because, as this video suggests, Tennessee has tried handling it themselves (via Newsbusters):

CNN did provide some coverage of the flood, which has killed at least nineteen people:

Nearly a week after record-setting rain swelled rivers to historic levels and sent a torrent of water rushing through Nashville, much of the Tennessee city of about 1 million people remained flooded. …

As rescue and recovery crews continued to look for more bodies, the death toll across the Southeast from the weekend storm stood at 28 on Wednesday.

Nineteen of the deaths were in Tennessee, with nine in Nashville alone. Two residents are missing, Dean’s office said.

The mayor estimated the flood damage to top $1 billion easily.

The storms have killed 28 people in the American Southeast. The Red Cross is trying to help. We may not be able to help with the Gulf crisis, but we can help the folks of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi by donating cash and goods through the Red Cross effort.

Update: WSMV will hold a telethon tonight that will be live-streamed on their site.  Dig deep.

Update II: I didn’t know this when I wrote the post, but there is a Townhall/Salem Communications link to this story, too. I received this statement from Townhall a few minutes ago:

Townhall Magazine subscriptions are handled out of Salem’s Nashville office and sadly Townhall Magazine’s circulation manager had her house flooded with more than 8 feet of water. Word is that it going to be a total loss. Our prayers and support go to Jamie in her moment of need.

Jamie, you’re in our prayers.

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You’re oblivious, aren’t you? These are people’s lives we’re talking about.

kingsjester on May 6, 2010 at 10:15 AM

yes, and we’ve been trying to warn you for years.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:28 AM

There are too many white southerners there. Plus it’s a nayural disaster, not man made.

thekingtut on May 6, 2010 at 10:29 AM

That’s natural disaster.

thekingtut on May 6, 2010 at 10:29 AM

Also, not a peep from Nashville’s most notorious resident, ManBearPig. I’m sure he’ll eventually poke his head out and declare global warming was the cause of a storm that stalled and dumped nearly 20 inches of rain on us.

robblefarian on May 6, 2010 at 9:45 AM

The Gore effect – but it was too warm for it to be snow. Also a reason the MSM didn’t cover it further – they’d be risking excommunication from the prophet’s (CO2 be upon him) religion. . .

Wind Rider on May 6, 2010 at 10:30 AM

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:19 AM

That’s topography, not climate modeling. Idiot.

DrSteve on May 6, 2010 at 10:30 AM

Well, we in Kentucky got whomped by a major ice storm two years ago. No big media outcry then. We got through it. So will Nashville. I love to visit there and fully expect the city to up and running in a few months.

Anyone noticed that there’s been no looting and very little whining on the part of Tennesseans? They just rolled up their sleeves and got down to work.

Ellen on May 6, 2010 at 10:30 AM

New study proves TN flood caused by Priuses.

Akzed on May 6, 2010 at 10:30 AM

Who really cares what causes disasters, the important thing is they get some help when they do happen.

scalleywag on May 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:19 AM

Flooding… In a valley carved by rivers and streams…

That is about like a city below sea level getting flooded during a hurricane… or a city on a fault line getting leveled by an earthquake… or a town on the side of a volcano being buried in ash and lava…

Here’s your sign.

Wolftech on May 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM

Your models failed to predict the record cold winter, the record snowfalls etc therefore they are worthless.

unseen on May 6, 2010 at 10:16 AM

last winter was among the warmest on record, and the heavy winter storms, surprise, were also predicted by climate change models.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM

Maybe, there aren’t enough non-white victims in Nashville. The MSM only counts victims as victims if they aren’t white.

thuja on May 6, 2010 at 10:32 AM

yes, and we’ve been trying to warn you for years.

You’re a self-righteous little crap-weasel, aren’t you? Warning who?

“Hey, we’ve been warned that there might be tornadoes and a chance of catastrophic flooding. We better move our house to higher ground, dear.”

WTF?

robblefarian on May 6, 2010 at 10:32 AM

Is Bush to Blame for New Orleans Flooding?

I wonder if FactCheck.org will do a similar piece on Obama

faraway on May 6, 2010 at 10:33 AM

They just rolled up their sleeves and got down to work.

Ellen on May 6, 2010 at 10:30 AM

Just like the folks in Mississippi after Katrina. While everyone was crying racism in New Orleans, Governor Haley Barbour was telling his people in Mississippi to take care of each other and get to work.

BacaDog on May 6, 2010 at 10:35 AM

last winter was among the warmest on record, and the heavy winter storms, surprise, were also predicted by climate change models.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM

The only way last winter is the warmest on record is if you include the southern hemisphere where it was summer. It was the coldest winter in the last 20 years or so years.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 10:35 AM

it’s hard to accept when you’re so wedded to the idea that global warming is a conspiracy, but it’s happening right now, predicted by climate scientists.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:19 AM

Gee…. aren’t you worried about Al Bore living right on the Pacific in a mansion? You might lose him!!!!!!!

Quick! Warn him. Save him. Help Al!!

You are such drones. It’s pathetic.

Cody1991 on May 6, 2010 at 10:35 AM

Obama hates White people.

GarandFan on May 6, 2010 at 10:35 AM

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:28 AM

Don’t look behind you. That ice might be gaining on you.

kingsjester on May 6, 2010 at 10:36 AM

last winter was among the warmest on record, and the heavy winter storms, surprise, were also predicted by climate change models.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM

ROFLOL….warmest on record…..lol….you really are very stupid aren’t you:

http://www2.wnct.com/nct/news/local/article/once_in_a_generation_cold_snap_forecast_for_nc/91554/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/6921281/Britain-facing-one-of-the-coldest-winters-in-100-years-experts-predict.html

http://chattahbox.com/us/2010/01/05/united-states-facing-coldest-winter-in-25-years/

I could go on but hotair will not let me post multipe links in a post..

unseen on May 6, 2010 at 10:37 AM

mwdiver on May 6, 2010 at 10:23 AM

Actually, in NE TN where I live, we have many rivers and lakes in these mountains. We have occasional floods here, as does the mountainous area in Western NC.

We were fortunate the front didn’t hold over this area.

ladyingray on May 6, 2010 at 10:38 AM

and the heavy winter storms, surprise, were also predicted by climate change models.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM

Cite me chapter and verse. Name the model and the data set it was run on, and while you’re at it tell me whether the model was initialized on conditions extant at the time the modeling was done.

DrSteve on May 6, 2010 at 10:39 AM

sesquipedalian has to be parody. The Aleph of Global Warming.

Inanemergencydial on May 6, 2010 at 10:40 AM

In Jackson, TN, between Memphis and Nashville, they got 13″ of rain last weekend from midnight Saturday morning to Sunday night.

kingsjester on May 6, 2010 at 10:40 AM

last winter was among the warmest on record

Measured how? Air temps are affected by the latent heat of fusion from all that … snow.

DrSteve on May 6, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Just like the folks in Mississippi after Katrina. While everyone was crying racism in New Orleans, Governor Haley Barbour was telling his people in Mississippi to take care of each other and get to work.

BacaDog on May 6, 2010 at 10:35 AM

Just like the folks in Louisiana after Rita. You know the more powerful hurricane that hit after Katrina in an area that was not Democratic in its demographics.

And Obama hates white people.

darclon on May 6, 2010 at 10:42 AM

last winter was among the warmest on record, and the heavy winter storms, surprise, were also predicted by climate change models. sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM

Sorry, but you forgot to post link to that study. Please do.

Akzed on May 6, 2010 at 10:42 AM

It sounds like Southwestern Louisiana after Rita too. All of my relatives were cleaning up and helping their neighbors just like the rest of the region.

shooten on May 6, 2010 at 10:43 AM

Cite me chapter and verse. Name the model and the data set it was run on, and while you’re at it tell me whether the model was initialized on conditions extant at the time the modeling was done.

DrSteve on May 6, 2010 at 10:39 AM

Oh now why did you have to go and request FACTS from the global warming loon? he had such a good narrative going. We are all going to die!

ROFL….

unseen on May 6, 2010 at 10:43 AM

sesquipedalian,

Are you saying there has been no flooding in Tennessee before the computer model predictions? Let’s say from 1900-1990, that should give a good time frame to research flooding in Tennessee.

Howcome on May 6, 2010 at 10:43 AM

sesquipedalian, what ended the last Ice Age?

Akzed on May 6, 2010 at 10:43 AM

If it Snows, it is Global Warming.

If it is warm, it is Global Warming.

If it Floods, it is Global Warming.

If it droughts, it is Global Warming.

If it does anything at all, it is Global Warming.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

sesquipedalian, what ended the last Ice Age?

Akzed on May 6, 2010 at 10:43 AM

the SUV?

lol

unseen on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

Like others above, I live in Nashville. What I saw with my own two eyes this past week has been unprecedented. Friends and coworkers evacuated, most of us without power, sometimes phone, roads under water. All these things I love about Nashville — the Opryland Hotel Christmas lights, Predator stadium, GOP, Country Music Hall of Fame, Titan Stadium, my favorite restaurant Calypso Cafe — one by one, all hit.

So the last thing I want to hear about is global warming and climate science. You may think you’re right, you may even BE right, doesn’t matter; it’s the wrong time, wrong thread. Out of respect to the good people of TN, Nashville and especially those of us in Bellevue, save this for another thread. I came here to find out information about the flood that devastated my city, not be preached to.

LastRick on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

The only way last winter is the warmest on record is if you include the southern hemisphere where it was summer. It was the coldest winter in the last 20 years or so years.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 10:35 AM

Well just so sesquipedalian doesn’t get completely abused, here in southern MA we generally don’t get snow until after xmas and even then we don’t get more then a few inches. Growing up we use to bet on a “white Xmas”. We also don’t get any really cold days with the low temps in the high 20s and low 30s. I also start pumping out the basement starting in about the end of Jan. This year was different. We started getting snow in Oct and we had well over a foot by Xmas. Over the whole season the snow measured in feet rather then inches. We had weeks of temps in the teens and nights in the singles digits and I didn’t start pumping the basement until well into March.

Oh wait. That doesn’t really support sesquipedalian now does it. Sorry my bad.

Ragamuffin on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

Obama is ignoring this because there is no political demagoguery to be had here. There is not “villain” to blame (except for…global warming/global raining or something, or, um Bush…).

And since there’s little political gain to be had from taking on this actual natural disaster and having his actual response evaluated in public, the Administration just ignores it an worries about “big oil.”

Heckuva job, Barry.

Good Lt on May 6, 2010 at 10:47 AM

I haven’t been watching news much these days I’m too busy but… nothing in the news lately helps Obama or the Democrats hold on to absolute power. So of course it is hushed up.

Of course it is a “slow news day” when it hurts Democrats.

It’s all part of the same corrupt machine the Democrats have built to bring us all into socialist-slavery.

Now you can bet if Bush were still in office that oil slick and this deadly flooding would be spun to make it directly Bush’s fault.

I hate the media. I wish we could fix the downward spiral of this civilization.

The first step would to get rid of propaganda machines like the NYT and all the current network news reporting.

Outlets like CNN have a vested interest in the failure of the American ideal for freedom. When they control the news they control the country.

petunia on May 6, 2010 at 10:48 AM

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

Things that ‘explain everything’ end up explaining nothing.

Good Lt on May 6, 2010 at 10:49 AM

Good Lt on May 6, 2010 at 10:49 AM

The Theory of Anthropogenic Climate Change is not Science. It Lacks one key component, Refutability.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 10:50 AM

last winter was among the warmest on record, and the heavy winter storms, surprise, were also predicted by climate change models.

The hurricane predictions?

(crickets)

The climate models that didn’t include the summer in the southern hemisphere that had nothing to do with anthropogenic warming?

Coldest winter in decades, and most snow in many areas to boot.

Weather is not climate, we are told by Obamatrons and Gaia-worshippers when their best laid predictions and fake hockey-stick graphs turn out not to be so accurate. Well, then stop trying to use weather as “proof” of climate change.

Good Lt on May 6, 2010 at 10:51 AM

THIS just came thru my neighborhood listserv that has been keeping people updated. As you can see, our water situation is DIRE

Subject: [BHN] FROM COUNCILMAN MIKE JAMESON to all neighborhoods – Water emergency is growing – Cut consumption please

Friends –
The message to our fellow citizens regarding the seriousness of the water depletion issue is not sinking in, so to speak. The Metro Water Services Department typically maintains surplus water supplies in excess of 60%. Within the past 72 hours, that level has been depleted to 37% and consumption continues. As stated below, last year at this time, Nashvillians used 81.64 million gallons of water. Yesterday, they used 79.33 million gallons. A whopping 3% reduction. And we still have only one (1) treatment facility (Omohundro) in operation.
Simply put, we cannot continue to use water at current consumption levels or we will be forced to resort to bottled water.Perhaps you have co-workers who showed up showered, shaved and blow-dried today. Please let them know the urgency of our current situation and remind them to cut by at least half their water usage rates.
Remember those scenes in Batman where no one could wear make-up because Jack Nicholson had poisoned it? We’ll look like that for a few days.
Mike
Mike Jameson
Metro Council, 6th District

The Tennessean
Conserve water now
MAY 5, 2010
We run the risk of running out of water if we don’t cut our use immediately.
Despite the loss of one of two water treatment plants, Davidson County residents have not significantly decreased their water consumption.

Metro Water Director just gave this comparison: Last year at this time, Nashvillians used 81.64 million gallons of water. Yesterday, they used 79.33 million gallons.

Despite calls to cut consumption by 50 percent, many people are returning to their normal lifestyles even as thousands of people and business owners begin to sift through the wreckage.

Water officials have asked people to limit their use to basic needs such as hygiene and not to hoard water in bathtubs or buckets. Don’t wash your cars. Avoid the need to wash dishes by paper plates and plastic utensils if you can. Let’s all use some common sense.
If we don’t cut water use, we will likely run out of water. So, please, conserve now.

labwrs on May 6, 2010 at 10:52 AM

Kind of like the Kentucky ice storm, or the Katrina affects on Missisippi, or most Florida hurricanes.

Gee, I wonder why red states seem to handle disasters better and are ignored by the media?

reaganaut on May 6, 2010 at 10:52 AM

Gee, I wonder why red states seem to handle disasters better and are ignored by the media?

reaganaut on May 6, 2010 at 10:52 AM

Probably because we are still free men and not slaves.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 10:55 AM

not be preached to.

LastRick on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

sadly its what liberals do. It all they do. they have no compassion, they simply use every crisis “as a teachable moment” to advance their worldview.

trying to stop them from doing so is like trying to stop the sun from coming up in the morning. I’ve found the best way to deal with them is call them out for the idiots they are.

however, I do understand your point and will try to refrain from the discussion on why the liberal belief in Gaia is wrong and delusional.

unseen on May 6, 2010 at 10:56 AM

Sorry, but you forgot to post link to that study. Please do.

Akzed on May 6, 2010 at 10:42 AM

here.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM

Most of these models (unless they’re badly overfit) only predict things like decadal variations. Remind me, did it also flood in Nashville last year?

The first sign of someone talking out of their backside about predictive modeling is not knowing what the damned y-hat is to begin with.

DrSteve on May 6, 2010 at 10:59 AM

it’s the wrong time, wrong thread. Out of respect to the good people of TN, Nashville and especially those of us in Bellevue, save this for another thread. I came here to find out information about the flood that devastated my city, not be preached to.

LastRick on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

you might be on the wrong thread then. this is a discussion forum, not an information center. but i’ll respect your wish.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 11:01 AM

here.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM

Is that a joke?

Of course, both climate change contrarians and climate change scientists agree that no single weather event can be blamed on climate change. However, one can “load the dice” in favor of events that used to be rare–or unheard of–if the climate is changing to a new state. It is quite possible that the dice have been loaded in favor of more intense Nor’easters for the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, thanks to the higher levels of moisture present in the air due to warmer global temperatures. It’s worth mentioning that heavy snow storms should be getting increasingly rare for the extreme southern portion of the U.S. in coming decades. There’s almost always high amounts of moisture available for a potential heavy snow in the South–just not enough cold air. With freezing temperatures expected to decrease and the jet stream and associated storm track expected to move northward, the extreme southern portion of the U.S. should see a reduction in both heavy and ordinary snow storms in the coming decades.

Could, might, potentially…what a joke.

Inanemergencydial on May 6, 2010 at 11:01 AM

LastRick on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

Thank you.

BTW, we had a Calypso here in The ‘Boro, but it close last year. I really miss the jerk chicken and the best greens ever made by man.

robblefarian on May 6, 2010 at 11:01 AM

No one in Nashville or the sourounding area has been on TV blaming W or whining for a hand out. The locals responded in concert with the FD and PD to get boats and ATV to help folks out.
Man bear pig has not been sighted.

Col.John Wm. Reed on May 6, 2010 at 11:02 AM

it’s the wrong time, wrong thread. Out of respect to the good people of TN, Nashville and especially those of us in Bellevue, save this for another thread. I came here to find out information about the flood that devastated my city, not be preached to.

LastRick on May 6, 2010 at 10:45 AM

Rick, lots of information and photos at :

wlac.com
wsmv.com
tennessean.com

labwrs on May 6, 2010 at 11:07 AM

ladyingray on May 6, 2010 at 10:38 AM

No doubt, but I think you missed the point.

mwdiver on May 6, 2010 at 11:08 AM

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM

From your Link:

There will still be colder than average winters in a world that is experiencing warming, with plenty of opportunities for snow.

So, in other words, if we have 30 winters in a row with record snowfall it will be further proof of Global Warming. If we have an ice sheet forming across the North American Continent, blame Global Warming.

If it is Cold, it is actually warm!

I guess War is Peace and Truth is Fiction, am I right.

The more difficult ingredient for producing a record snowstorm is the requirement of near-record levels of moisture. Global warming theory predicts that global precipitation will increase, and that heavy precipitation events–the ones most likely to cause flash flooding–will also increase. This occurs because as the climate warms, evaporation of moisture from the oceans increases, resulting in more water vapor in the air.

Water Vapor incidentally is a far more capable Greenhouse Gas than CO2. But more importantly, if it is warmer, then how can there be an increase in rain since an increase in Temp makes it harder for evaporated water to condensate.

Secondly, if there is more rain, the act of rain decreases heat, therefore dropping Global Temp. In other words, it is a wash and Climate Change is not the globe killing catastrophic excuse for Draconian government policies that Lefties are supporting.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 11:08 AM

Perhaps if there had been reports of cannibals in the Opry…

tree hugging sister on May 6, 2010 at 11:09 AM

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM

It’s still snowing here, bright eyes. We had a severe winter warning here for the past week. I regret taking my snow tires off. And usually we’re well into spring by now.

mjk on May 6, 2010 at 11:09 AM

I’ve already noticed a difference between this year and Last year. It is the beginning of May and it is cooler than it was last year.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 11:11 AM

mwdiver on May 6, 2010 at 11:08 AM

No, actually I did get your point. I was just adding to it.

ladyingray on May 6, 2010 at 11:14 AM

We’re in record cold territory here, genius.
Obama hates white people and red states.

ORconservative on May 6, 2010 at 11:16 AM

I don’t donate to the American Red Cross; haven’t since 9/11. I’ve been an employee of both the ARC and the Salvation Army (the latter in Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia), and have much more praise for the Salvation Army. They offer spiritual help, as well as material help, to victims of disasters, but the Red Cross offers only the latter.

KyMouse on May 6, 2010 at 11:16 AM

Yep. My wife read something online and told me “Oh. The Grand Ole’ Opry got flooded.”

I’m a news junky and didn’t know what she was talking about. I hadn’t read or seen a thing about flooding in Nashville.

29Victor on May 6, 2010 at 11:16 AM

To the MSM “Nashville” = “White” and the MSM believes that white people can take care of themselves just fine.

29Victor on May 6, 2010 at 11:18 AM

sesquipedalian has to be parody.

Inanemergencydial on May 6, 2010 at 10:40 AM

I’m starting to think so as well. At least he/she made me laugh though. The point about how they predicted flooding in river valleys was just priceless.

strictnein on May 6, 2010 at 11:19 AM

theblackcommenter on May 6, 2010 at 10:04 AM

I am praying for you and your city. Hang in there! We will not forget.

d1carter on May 6, 2010 at 11:19 AM

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 11:11 AM

trust me, i noticed it too.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 11:20 AM

I guess he’s letting them cling to their Bibles and guns.

NickelAndDime on May 6, 2010 at 11:22 AM

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 11:20 AM

Heat Island Effect. You live in an area that is one gigantic black body radiator. I’ve seen Roads out in New Mexico that were hot enough to melt the sole of your shoe.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 11:28 AM

Just like the folks in Louisiana after Rita. You know the more powerful hurricane that hit after Katrina in an area that was not Democratic in its demographics.

It wasn’t the Hurricane that was an issue in NO after Katrina. As you recall, it was the preventable flooding.

YYZ on May 6, 2010 at 11:28 AM

If you are looking for a way to help TODAY, here is a GREAT organization doing AMAZING WORK!!!!!!!

Subject: Flood Relief: Thursday, May 6 + Friday, May 7

Good morning! If I was a preacher preaching a sermon this Sunday I would say, Hey Nashville: You ARE the sermon! Look at you lifting each other up with strong spirit, sense of humor and humility! Look at you being church!

Your efforts to provide meals for those who have been flooded out or displaced has been incredible. Over the last three days we have made stops across Davidson + Williamson Counties, serving over 2,300 meals. Because of all the generous donations of food from local grocers and food distributors, we are at capacity with fresh foods. We are asking for volunteers whose kitchens were not damaged to pick up grocery bags of food from our kitchens, along with a recipe, and prepare meals at home. We’ve got disposable tupperware to go along with it. These meals are going out on our trucks daily and served to victims of the flood, as well as to those working around the clock towards recovery. A huge thanks to Woodmont member Kathy Davis who has been working tirelessly to organize this aspect of what we’re doing.

Day four of our relief effort looks like this:

Today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday) we will be receiving volunteers to prepare food from the hours of 11 AM to 3 PM. We appreciate everyone’s willingness to pitch in, but are asking that volunteers please not arrive before 11 AM as we are trying to use that morning time to check voicemail, return phone calls, send emails, arrange deliveries and get organized for the day. We will be more productive later if we are able to spend that time in the office. Today, we need as many truck drivers as possible. Please email Margo, our Volunteer Coordinator at mclongiger@mlfnashville.org if you are available to drive a truck during the day or this evening.

Many of you have been asking about weekend volunteer opportunities. We will have a plan for Saturday by the end of today and plan to take a Sabbath rest on Sunday. However, we will need to schedule someone to deliver food Sunday to one location (Metro Water’s Central Plant). Please email Margo to get plugged in.

For those of you bringing donations of toiletries or fresh fruit in, please let us know if you need a receipt for your purchases. We will be happy to sign one before you leave. We’ll gladly continue accepting donations in the form of toiletries and fresh fruit, but because so much has already come in, they are no longer a pressing need. THANK YOU for stepping up and bringing these items in. We will continue to collect:

brown paper lunch sacks
sandwich-sized zipper baggies
disposable to-go containers with lids
disposable oven-safe aluminum baking pans
Cheap plastic serving spoons for salad, casserole, pasta + meat

We are also looking for donations of a few bigger items which will allow us to store more food and serve more people:

Chest Freezers
Refrigerators

We can arrange pick-up if you have one to donate and will be happy to provide receipt for your tax-deductible gifts. Please be in touch if you have one!

If you’re interested in making a money contribution, please send a check to:

Mobile Loaves + Fishes Nashville
3605 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville, TN 37215

Or donate with a credit card online through a special Nashville Is Under Water campaign:

http://www.mlfnow.org

Finally, a big thanks to Alan Nelson of Woodmont Christian Church who posted this video to youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHO5WHH46zM&feature=player_embedded

If you know of any area of Nashville, precinct meeting or community coming together to help in the recovery effort who could benefit from meals, please let us know.

I begin this day heartened by the stories of hospitality I’m reading in the paper and grateful for these opportunities to learn together and from one another. Thank you.

With peace like a river, tallu
–
Tallu Scott Schuyler
Executive Director
Mobile Loaves and Fishes Nashville
Woodmont Christian Church
3605 Hillsboro Rd.
Nashville, TN 37215
(615) 460-0172

labwrs on May 6, 2010 at 11:28 AM

FYI, many of the people manning the phones for the Telethon tonight will be people like Vince Gill.

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:30 AM

YYZ on May 6, 2010 at 11:28 AM

Also gross incompetence and negligence at the State and City level. IIRC, the Democrat Governor of LA fled to Texas and was incommunicado until GW Bush sent Marshals to get her back to LA.

Holger on May 6, 2010 at 11:31 AM

In fairness to the mainstream media, the Times Square non-bombing (and to a lesser extent, BP) kind of crowded out everything else this week.

Man-made disasters usually tend to trump natural ones in the media.

YYZ on May 6, 2010 at 11:33 AM

Also gross incompetence and negligence at the State and City level. IIRC, the Democrat Governor of LA fled to Texas and was incommunicado until GW Bush sent Marshals to get her back to LA.

Again, more factors which made Katrina different from Rita and most other hurricanes.

YYZ on May 6, 2010 at 11:34 AM

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 9:56 AM

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Now, can I have some of your drugs?

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:36 AM

Is Bush to Blame for New Orleans Flooding?

I wonder if FactCheck.org will do a similar piece on Obama

faraway on May 6, 2010 at 10:33 AM

Of course not. FactCheck.org is run by the Annenberg Foundation, which gave O’bama his very first “job” as a community organizer.

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:39 AM

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM

“Of course, both climate change contrarians and climate change scientists agree that no single weather event can be blamed on climate change”

Hey idiot – from line 1 of the “commentary” of your weatherunderground link…

Now go drink bleach.

Odie1941 on May 6, 2010 at 11:42 AM

here.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM

LOL, that doesn’t prove your claims. Totally inconclusive.

About the only thing of use I found in that link was the last sentence, where Jeff Masters congratulated the New Orleans Saints for their Super Bowl win. I’m sure AGW caused that, too.

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:45 AM

Now, can I have some of your drugs?

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:36 AM

sure, if you’re not afraid of your dogs getting shot in front of your kids.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 11:45 AM

It wasn’t the Hurricane that was an issue in NO after Katrina. As you recall, it was the preventable flooding.

YYZ on May 6, 2010 at 11:28 AM

Which was caused by the failure of the levees, which were never built correctly due to local and state Democrat corruption.

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:48 AM

Meanwhile, Country Music star Luke Bryan is busy re-writing the words to his former hit song: “Rain is a Good Thang”.

Sweet_Thang on May 6, 2010 at 11:48 AM

Now, can I have some of your drugs?

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:36 AM

sure

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 11:45 AM

Thanks for admitting it.

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:49 AM

What heartbreak! There are jewels of Americana in Nashville’s artifacts, historic venues, and people being totally ignored by the national media and a president who makes not even a passing comment on the city’s destruction.

I am not a fan of country music, but I enjoyed a most delightful visit to Nashville several years ago. My respect and appreciation for both the place and its musical contribution to America rose manifold.

onlineanalyst on May 6, 2010 at 11:50 AM

If The Calypso in East Nashville is still open, I’m buying…

ConstantSorrow on May 6, 2010 at 11:53 AM

What heartbreak! There are jewels of Americana in Nashville’s artifacts, historic venues, and people being totally ignored by the national media and a president who makes not even a passing comment on the city’s destruction.

I am not a fan of country music, but I enjoyed a most delightful visit to Nashville several years ago. My respect and appreciation for both the place and its musical contribution to America rose manifold.

onlineanalyst on May 6, 2010 at 11:50 AM

Don’t know the details but supposedly some irreplaceable artifacts were destroyed in the flooding.

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:54 AM

robblefarian on May 6, 2010 at 11:01 AM

Saturday at lunch we stopped in the Bellevue/Bellemeade (I’m never sure where the line is) Calypso Cafe location. Awesome lunch as always. It was already raining by that time and behind the restaurant a creek runs, usually several feet below road level. The waiter and I noted, the water was moving fast (even then barely into the start of the flood) and the water was higher than normal. Fast forward to Tuesday when the waters receded enough for us to escape our house. I drove past that Calypso again and the entire parking lot was rubble, looked like it had been picked up by the hand of God and thrown about. The creek had risen out of its bed to cross the road, this morning I still saw trees that had had been thrown onto the road at one point by that “tiny” creek. As for Calypso, I’ve been trying to find out if they were damaged inside but yesterday, the front of the restaurant was still blocked by construction crew. So I’ll try again later today.

LastRick on May 6, 2010 at 11:57 AM

What? Not even a FLYOVER?? Geez, doesn’t he CARE?

I’m talking about Bush, of course.

Jewels on May 6, 2010 at 12:01 PM

In fairness to the mainstream media, the Times Square non-bombing (and to a lesser extent, BP) kind of crowded out everything else this week.

Man-made disasters usually tend to trump natural ones in the media.

YYZ on May 6, 2010 at 11:33 AM

TBH that’s what we guessed down here. So one would think when it had wrapped up, attention would return to this story. But it was slow to return; I still had family and friends, when they could finally reach me (cell phone service and power in SW Nashville was nil at times) say, we had no idea it was that bad. Yeah, I know. But it’s hard to complain, while waiting for national attention, we started blood drives and money donations, radio stations did telethons, etc. Nashville is good people.

LastRick on May 6, 2010 at 12:01 PM

and the heavy winter storms, surprise, were also predicted by climate change models.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM

You must mean these models:
http://www.stylelist.com/2009/10/29/models-strip-to-fight-global-warming/

faol on May 6, 2010 at 12:06 PM

Obama hates country music.

warden on May 6, 2010 at 12:06 PM

Obama hates America and Americans. You people are bothering him. Don’t you know that he has celebrations to celebrate and speeches to give?

BetseyRoss on May 6, 2010 at 12:10 PM

it’s hard to accept when you’re so wedded to the idea that global warming is a conspiracy, but it’s happening right now, predicted by climate scientists.

sesquipedalian on May 6, 2010 at 10:19 AM

This is some of the most cynical, intellectually dishonest tripe I’ve ever seen.

Our current suite of climate models do not have the fidelity to predict day to day weather outcomes, AT ALL. I mean, putting aside the intellectual sloth that it takes to publicize an anecdote as empirical evidence of a larger trend, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

There’s people on the thread with friends and family who have been devastated and you’re lecturing them about climate change? I can’t think of a better way to make lifelong enemies.

TheUnrepentantGeek on May 6, 2010 at 12:21 PM

Obama & the MSM can’t politicize this so it doesn’t exist…plus, of course, it’s a red state in the South…perhaps someone should inform them that the sub-groups in America they work so hard to keep divided and control also live in middle Tennessee…

DCJeff on May 6, 2010 at 12:21 PM

Our current suite of climate models do not have the fidelity to predict day to day weather outcomes, AT ALL.

Respectfully, they’re not intended to.

DrSteve on May 6, 2010 at 12:25 PM

LastRick, I wish you the best of luck and may God smile upon you. I feel your pain. Although I had no “actual” damage, I’ll have to spend a good amount on french drains, a sump pump, new vapor liner and retaining walls. Hopefully, I can do most of the work myself and save some money. No other homes in our subdivision had any water in their crawl spaces, but my house sits at the end of the cul-de-sac and I was getting run-off from my neighbors. It came in from the south end of my property, under the house like a river and out through the block at the corner of my garage and down to the flood zone 100 yards away. Luckily, it slopes and only reached about 18 inches of water at the low end of the crawl space. It was all drained and gone by the morning. The vapor barrier is toast though. We had between 10 and 13 inches in Murfreesboro, but Smyrna and LaVergne got hit much harder.

We’ll fix the problem and move on. Nothing much else to say, I reckon.

robblefarian on May 6, 2010 at 12:26 PM

Don’t know the details but supposedly some irreplaceable artifacts were destroyed in the flooding.

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 11:54 AM

False alarm, apparently. The Basement at the Country Music Hall of Fame was flooded, but this did not apparently damage any items.

However the Grand Ole Opry house did sustain some damage.

The devastating floods in Nashville have inundated the Grand Ole Opry House, the most famous country-music venue in the world, and damaged cherished equipment of country artists across Music City.

Songwriter Aimee Mayo posted a photo to Twitter on Wednesday, sent to her by country star Kellie Pickler, showing the flooded main hall of the Opry, which sits five miles northeast of the entertainment district. Many instruments, costumes, audio tapes and other historic paraphernalia are feared lost or damaged at the site.

Del Dolemonte on May 6, 2010 at 12:31 PM

I lost my new home. My new car. Almost everything I own. I came close to losing my wife.

Life savings will be completely wiped out; massive new debt incurred.

And I’m stuck in northern Iraq, leading an infantry platoon. I was emailing my wife on her Blackberry, late at night here, as the flood waters rose to the second story of the house. I had to wait, staring at my computer, to find out if she’d made it out alive.

And we’re the lucky ones. I have friends that don’t even have homes to repair. People died in my neighborhood. 140+ homes in my own neighborhood are severely damaged.

But FEMA is rushing to the rescue, so I’m sure everything will be fine. (sarcasm just reached new heights)

But in the midst of all the misery, I’ve never been so inspired. Friends and neighbors have come from everywhere to help. At this moment there are a dozen people in my house 7000 miles away, ripping out drywall and floorboards and starting the cleanup. The support has been instant and miraculous and overwhelming.

It sucks. Hard. But I’ve never been so proud of my hometown, of my state, of my country, of my friends and family.

Most of the country could learn some lessons from how Nashville is responding to tragedy. We’ll be fine. And when y’all need help, we’ll be the first to volunteer. It’s what we do.

http://www.section303.com/we-are-nashville-4366

Professor Blather on May 6, 2010 at 12:32 PM

If none of the dead are hispanic or black, it’s hardly a news event. /s

stenwin77 on May 6, 2010 at 12:38 PM

Professor Blather on May 6, 2010 at 12:32 PM

God Bless you sir. Sending prayers your way.

Is there anything we can do or some place in particular to send money besides the Red Cross?

TheUnrepentantGeek on May 6, 2010 at 12:40 PM

God bless you & your family Professor Blather! I’m a Volunteer as well…originally from Nashville…stuck in DC for a few more years until I can go back home for good. My neighbors here…aren’t neighbors…and don’t have a clue how us and most of the rest of the country will help those in need.

DCJeff on May 6, 2010 at 12:41 PM

It’s the South. The MSM don’t care what happens in the south; they figure we deserve whatever happens to us anyway.

Now if Bush were still in office, they would be caring plenty – just to show that he wasn’t doing enough.

Alana on May 6, 2010 at 12:42 PM

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