Little Drops of Nectar

There are countless media outlets who can tell the story better than I can, but suffice it to say that Nashville, TN is under water.  On May 1st and 2nd, 2010, Nashville’s two-day rainfall record of approximately 6 1/2 inches was completely obliterated when the city received a whopping 13 1/2 inches of rain.  As I write this, around 8pm on May 3rd, the main river (the Cumberland) that snakes its way throughout the city is expected to finally crest at 52.5 feet.  Flood stage is closer to 40 feet.  The flood wall system, built in the 1960’s after a major flood, has a 50-foot flood wall to protect the core of downtown.  That wall still stands strong.  It’s just that the water has poured over it.

Downtown Nashville May 3, 2010

If you know anything about Nashville, or have ever been there, the list of significant and historic buildings and institutions that have been affected by flood waters is beyond belief:

Downtown Area:

Inside the “Swampryland” Hotel Cascades

Broadway from 1st through 5th Avenues
Tennessee Titans (NFL) Stadium
Bridgestone Arena (NHL Hockey, Concerts, etc.)
$120 million Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
Countless businesses & restaurants

Opryland Area:

The Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center (pictured at right)
The Grand Ole Opry House (Mother Church of Country Music)

Opry Mills shopping complex

Inside the Grand Ole Opry House

Not a single area of town has been spared.  Those who weren’t affected by the initial rainfall were inundated as the Cumberland River continued (continues?) to rise and levees broke or overflowed.  On

top of everything else, two major dams nearby are beginning to release water down stream because the water levels on the other side are too high.

At any rate, the point is that Nashville, TN will never be the same after the great flood of 2010.  Today is May 3rd.  It did not rain in Nashville today.  However, this is already the wettest May on record for Nashville, and the 5th wettest month period.

~ by suitenectar on May 3, 2010.

Posted in Little Drops of Nectar
Tags: daily life, flood, life, miscellaneous, my life, nashville, news, ramblings, random, random thoughts, thoughts