Nashville Under Water

I can honestly say I never thought something like this would happen so close to home. I've seen this kind of thing on the news before in other parts of the country or world, and always thought.. "Oh, that's so sad..." and then gone back to whatever I was doing. I can't help but feel a touch of guilt for how quickly I've moved back to thinking about myself when confronted with images like these.

Jess and I were lucky enough to not have damage to our house or cars, but we were one of the lucky families. There were very very many who were not so fortunate. Also, this area is not known for floods, so most people would not have had flood insurance.

There are a huge amount of photos and video hitting the internet right now showing the flooding and damage to the Nashville area. Some folks in the area have felt that the national media have failed to give the proper level of attention to this crisis, and have focused more on the Gulf Coast oil spill, and the NYC failed bombing. I don't know what to think of the national media, but this is the first time that I've turned to Twitter for minute-by-minute updates of the news. It's really an incredible tool during a crisis.

For those who are outside of Nashville, however.... The national media seems to be able to give a more concise, broad perspective of what is going on.... so if you haven't heard about the severity of the flooding here in Nashville, check out this CNN video.



Local residents who are frustrated with the lack of coverage on national media outlets should probably find other resources if they're looking for detailed, up-to-the-minute coverage of the flooding. Channels 4 & 5 are local media that are giving a LOT of attention to this crisis. The Tennessean.com is a great resource. So is Nashvillest.com, for a more personal perspective of the story.

There are also many twitter feeds that you can follow for reliable, current information. @nashvillest is the one I've followed the most.

One aspect of this crisis that has impressed me greatly is the local community. People are pitching in and sheltering their neighbors, helping with cleanup, and volunteering without hesitation. I've never seen a community come together quite like this. I haven't heard of any looting, rioting, or anything of the sort. Nashville really is one of the most decent, warm, and thoughtful communities I've ever lived in.

If you're in the area, and want to help out with relief efforts, go to THIS LINK for info on how to get involved....

If you're not in the area, there are many organizations accepting donations.... Check out THIS SAME LINK for info on that as well.

Also, please be praying for the people of Nashville. This is a difficult time for the city, and there are many people who have lost their homes, cars, and belongings.