Allow me a moment to step away from the usual voice of this website.
What I am about to write has absolutely nothing to do with hockey.
If you live outside of Nashville, you may not be aware, but our city was hit by a 500-year flood over the last few days. The national news coverage gave us 15 minutes, but went back to focusing on a failed car bomb and an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While both are clearly important stories, was that any reason to ignore our story? It may not be as terror-sexy as a failed car bomb or as eco-sexy as an oil spill, but that’s no reason to be ignored.
The Cumberland River crested at its highest level in over 80 years. Nashville had its highest rainfall totals since records began. People drowned. Billions of dollars in damage occurred. It is the single largest disaster to hit Middle Tennessee since the Civil War. And yet…no one knows about it.
Does it really matter? Eventually, it will…as I mentioned, there are billions of dollars in damage. It seems bizarre that no one seems to be aware that we just experienced what is quite possibly the costliest non-hurricane disaster in American history. The funds to rebuild will have to come from somewhere, which is why people need to know. It’s hard to believe that we will receive much relief if there isn’t a perception that we need it.
But let’s look at the other side of the coin for a moment. A large part of the reason that we are being ignored is because of who we are. Think about that for just a second. Did you hear about looting? Did you hear about crime sprees? No…you didn’t. You heard about people pulling their neighbors off of rooftops. You saw a group of people trying to move two horses to higher ground. No…we didn’t loot. Our biggest warning was, “Don’t play in the floodwater.” When you think about it…that speaks a lot for our city. A large portion of why we were being ignored was that we weren’t doing anything to draw attention to ourselves. We were handling it on our own.
Some will be quick to find fault in the way rescue operations were handled, but the fact of the matter is that the catastrophe could not have been prevented and it is simply ignorant beyond all reason to suggest otherwise. It is a flood. It was caused by rain. You can try to find a face to stick this tragedy to, but you’ll be wrong.
Parts of Nashville that could never even conceivably be underwater were underwater. Some of them still are. Opry Mills and the Opryland Hotel are, for all intents and purposes, destroyed. People died sitting in standstill traffic on the Interstate. We saw boats going down West End. And, of course, we all saw the surreal image of the portable building from Lighthouse Christian floating into traffic and being destroyed when cars were knocked into it. I’m still having trouble comprehending all of it.
And yet…life will go on. We’ll go back to work, to school, to our lives…and we’ll carry on. In a little over a month, I’ll be on this website talking about the draft. In October, we’ll be discussing the new Predators’ season with nary a thought of these past few days. But in a way, they changed everyone in this town. We now know that that it can happen to us…but also know that we can handle it.
Because we are Nashville.
Patten's first NHL game was Tomas Vokoun's first career shutout in 1999. He has been a Predators fan ever since. A Nashville native and graduate of Belmont's journalism school, he has been a season ticket holder in the Cellblock since 2005-06.
You can e-mail Patten at Patten@section303.com and follow him on Twitter @smashville. 
very well said!
This gave me chills. I’m proud to live in Nashville.
So beautifully said. I love this city. I’ve been here for six years, and am proud to call Nashville my home. I am so proud that we have conducted ourselves with grace, dignity, and a strong spirit. I wish that was more newsworthy, but we all know it, and will never forget it. Beatiful blog!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKw3UIllNPE&fmt=22
Great informative video displaying a vast amount of devastation in just one neighborhood ravaged by flood waters. Shot in Bellevue, TN.
Contains resources for victims and those interested in helping in the relief effort.
This disaster is not getting the attention it deserves!
PASS IT ON
Thank you for putting into words what the rest of us are thinking.
We are Nashville! I LOVED this article.
Wonderful you, Patten. Very cool.
Well said.We will be ok and we will help each other because Nashville is strong.
i live in Antioch , up the street from the bell road and bluehoe road tradedy. and i watched the events go down on I24, the people running for thier lives as the water was coming over the interstate. i live in a 2 story house nd the 1st floor of my house is flooded and there is nothing i can do no where for me and my family to go. it wasnt that bad like alot of other people (about 4-5 inches) so we all ar camped out on the second floor. but as i go around town i am still amazed about what happened. i cant say others didnt know about what happened here in nashville because i know people in michigan, new york and florida, huntsville, that have called and have heard about what happened here in nashville. but we are called the volunteer state… we volunteer and step up and help each other in need and not just sit around and wait for someone. so yes thats why you seen people out helping other, taking their own boats out to get families out of thier houses. because if they hadnt, there would have been more then 19 people dead and even those people who passed were found in cars. well i have been here in nashville for about 12 yrs and i love it here. WE ARE NASHVILLE!!!
My parents live in Ashland City and i lived there for 12 Years before we had to move to New Mexico. And i saddens me to think of how they just thow this disaster to the side of everything else. I wish i could be there to help the people effected by it. Just remeber you guys are always in our prayers.
We are Proud…..We are Nashville!
WE care about you. Thank you SO MUCH for the whole scoop!!
WOW Lots of you guys have hit the nail on the head!! Thanks to Patten for creating this site. I never knew it was here.
We do take care of our own(meaning our own towns, areas, people). I drive a school bus for Metro. It saddens me to know we have lost some of our buses, some drivers have suffered damage to their homes(even lost them), but they DO have their lives!!
Yes, we will rebuild, we will prevail. It is amazing to me at how when tragedy hits we pull together no matter where your original roots began. If you live in Nashville, you are part of us!!
AMEN!
Very well said!! It makes you thankful for everything, it took a disaster to really pull the city together once again and remind us that we are the volunteer state! I think in our busy lives we forget everything going on around us. For me, this made me step back and really LOOK at the city, the people and my life! I am proud to be a Nashvillian and proud of our state for not complaining, but stepping up and helping in ANY way that we can! It takes a city to rebuild, well, a city!!
I’d just like to say thank you for some very well said words. As a 911 operator it means a lot to hear someone tell people not to place blame on the responders. I know these men and women worked extremely hard to try to get everyone to safety as quickly as possible. Some even refused the first time they were asked to leave their homes putting responders themselves in danger to come back a second time to rescue them. I grew up in Nashville and now serve the citizens of Nashville and I am proud to do so. Just goes to show Nashville doesn’t need 15 minutes of fame to get things done.
what she said
Ditto!
Thanks for taking the time to write this. I, like most Tennessean’s, have been wondering if we were going to get any media attention, guess not. I understand our country has a couple of issues it’s facing right now, but none of those produced any loss of life as far as I know. It sad that this happened to us and people 10 people are no longer with us, families no longer have a home, people no longer have jobs, and our communities have been damaged. As long as we stand together we will be just fine.
Please don’t forget the lives lost and those missing from the rig that exploded. Not having your loved one retured to you to mourn and bury is agonizing.
This is very well said indeed….I love Nashville, I lived there for 15 years and it is a great great city, I miss it dearly! It is a part of me and I feel like this happened to me as well, I have cried and prayed with all of you and my son and his fiance still live there! I am totally impressed with how this is being handled by the citizens of Nashville and disgusted that National news seems to feel it is not important! There are parts of the Americana that are now lost….oh they may be rebuilt, but it will never be the same! Yes Nashville you are a great city with great people and I am glad and proud to say that I am a part of this great wonderful city and its people….
awesome article!
I’ve read this great article and many of the numerous replys. After spending the last 2 days helping my son and his young family (wife and 2 daughters, almost 4 and 5) who have lost all their material goods and home, with their recovery process, I feel many writers have missed the most important and revealing part of Patten’s blog. It’s not about what story is getting the most national spotlight, but it’s about the bigger community. It has been said that “it takes a village…” I can firmly state tonight that you only have to be here to feel in ways I cannot describe the enormity of our village. Not only has the local community risen to the challenge with thousands of volunteers, our own family alone can attest to the incredible power of just one phone call. An old friend who had moved away called my dearest friend to find our how she could help. Keep in mind she lives hundreds of miles away now, and has serious, debilitating medical challenges herself. With only one more phone call on her part, suddenly, our “community” or village, now expands to such far-flung places as FL, NY, CO and CA, with care packages already in the mail to us. A simple email sent by an in-law to his extended family resulted in a package being already shipped from Guam! Nashvillians, both native and adopted, totally “get it” and the VOLUNTEER SPIRIT thrives in Nashville tonight. As I prepare to fall into bed exhausted, with the “fragrance” of contaminated water, mold and who knows what else still present in my nose and mouth hours after I left the “house boat” and long after a serious hot scrubbing in the shower, my heart is full…of pride in my community and feeling absolutely overwhelved by the outpouring of love for fellow humans by absolute strangers who are driven by a true desire to “pay it forward.” That, my friends, is the real story…not what disaster got the most national coverage. Tonight I am so proud – to be a Nashvillian, a Tennessean, an American, a member of this community…and, most importantly, the mother and grandmother of this incredible young family who have lost everything except the important stuff – their lives, family and friends – even the ones they will most likely never meet. And that is the story.
Maggie, thank you soooo much. You summed it up perfectly and I could not add or say anything to expand on your comment except I, too, am proud to be a part of a world that still holds most dear “Charity.” You never see a Uhaul behind a hearst but you do get to take the love with you. May everyone be stronger in your faith and may hope shine ever so bright. . .someone tell the tourists and the national news to make plans NOW, we’re remodeling!!
Wonderful article….I live in central Mississippi and your article brings to mind our great state of Mississippi and how we dealt with Hurricane Katrina. We, too, didn’t get much press because it was all centered on New Orleans. But, we Mississippians, pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps and rebuilt with not a whole lot of fanfare. We do so appreciate the many that did come to our aid without our even asking. God’s people are good!
I hear ya, Marybeth……I recall the media reports of Katrina only reporting the New Orleans issues, and not mentioning all the beautiful little cities up the Gulf Coast. I had been there only 3 months before Katrina and loved the area and planned to go back…………the people were so nice, yards and beaches were clean, but all America heard about was New Orleans. Oh yes, I had gone there too, but 1 hr. in the city and I headed back down the coast……….New Orleans was dirty, unsafe at night, good music and probably food, but no comparison. I hate that Nashville is not getting the attention they should b/c this looks & feels like a Katrina to me. Please know that many, many Midwesterners are praying for you and your families and finding ways to assist with the rebuild. Facebook rocks to get the message out.
I would’ve cried a river when I read this, but this story is untrue. There was looting at farmer’s market. The security unlocked the gates for the owners to rescue what they could, and several people went in and looted the place.
Also the reason we’re not up everyone’s noses around the world 24-7 about the flood? THERE’S OTHER NEWS BESIDES US! Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Damn!
Wow Mike you are a winner.
Mike–I believe the point is that there wasn’t MASS looting. You are speaking of one instance. Can you even name another, or compare it to New Orleans?? I guess that’s a rehtorical question…
You are cold and have no heart. The point is we are not asking for pitty or attention, even though we lost everything! We don’t need pitty! We are Nashville!
wow Mike, way to focus on something negative. we are not feeling sorry for ourselves because we are survivors and we will get through this. perhaps you don’t know anyone who has been devastated by this. I do, many. I live in Bellevue and hundreds of people right next to me have lost almost everything. one can’t possibly comprehend the extent of the destruction until you see it for yourself. and this article is true, we have received almost no national press- so many people in other areas have no idea what is going on here.
Awesome maybe this should be read on the national news. we the people of Tennessee are amazing when it comes to our fellow man!My husband works for A O Smith water products and this company is paying them for 40 hours of work they did not perform because they care!!! What an awesome tow to live in Ashland City tn We love you!!!
Mike..Maybe you should read it again…comprehend it this time ..because you didn’t get it obviously .. I was out of town when it happened and had no clue what was going on till I looked on my facebook page.. before i almost drove through it…..Damn??? WTF??
Seriously How can you say that!!!! Ok so there was one instance of looting out of the whole city, and to be frank the produce was ruined by the contaminated water so if the looters try to eat it they could get sick.THIS IS VERY BAD, THE WORST FLOOD SINCE THE CIVIL WAR!!!!!!!! Show a little common courtesy dude.
Wow Mike A. I can only guess what the “A” stands for after making such a comment. It’s not all about the glory or recognition of the complete and utter devestation, it’s the fact that so many people have lost so very much and most with absolutely no idea of where to turn next. Haiti had terrible earthquakes and more time energy and money has been shoved their way than most tax paying citizens would like. BUT, we still do it. I am very upset about the other events happening in the U.S. because I am an AMERICAN, & i care. When will we start caring for us, & I am asking you MIKE A. When will you start caring? When it your life is totally destroyed???
Dear Mike, You’re a douche-bag and need to keep quiet. The end.
Mike, you are obviously a transplant from the north. If you can’t appreciate middle TN, go home!
Hey, don’t knock transplants from the north, we love Nashville too!!
Amen Dana.
Ditto.
Loved this article until this comment & the one above. If all from “the north” went home Nashville would not be the same!
Yes, go home, those who do not appreciate Middle TN. I am speaking of Mike and any one else that does not comprehend the tragedy of so many families during the flood and its aftermath.
Jan
You are wrong Nashville will be Nashville no matter whos here. Its the spirit of why we are called the volunteer state.
I am from the north and I was standing right beside my neighbors as the floods come rushing in. Don’t reply to ugliness with ugliness. Fact is, we are a community that is in need and came together like I have never seen anywhere before. It speaks volumes about the type of people we are…it isn’t a north and south thing, it is a middle TN thing.
I’m a transplant from the north and I think Mike A is a douche-bag too.
The truth about Nashvillians is, if Mike was in trouble, we’d probably all try to help him out. How sad is he? He doesn’t get it.
I resent your comment somewhat…I am a transplant from the North and am very proud to be in Middle Tennessee and know of the volunteer spirit that is alive and well. Please don’t paint all transplants with the same brush.
Amen x 2!! I am a Northern transplant, and this city has stolen my heart lock, stock and barrel. I LOVE this place, and have made it my home. Not all of us Yankess are jerks!
Marza Um, lighten up people. I’m from New York and will be out with the hundreds of other volunteers helping my and your neighbors. Enough with the “up north”, and “yankee” shit. There are jack-asses in EVERY state.
Dear Teresa,
Is that your southern charm and hospitality showing through?
Mike A(ss) – What did they get, a couple of tomatoes? You pathetic loser, people are using the term “no looting” as in general terms. Not as an absolute. Are you an idiot? We live in a metropolitan area (that means a lot of people, if you can still keep up: of or pertaining to a large city, its surrounding suburbs, and other neighboring communities) There are murders, rape, pillage and plunder in every major city in the U.S., all day, and every day. The point is, that overall our city has not succumbed to the normal mass looting and hysteria that places like NYC, New Orleans, Chicago, and Detroit go through under similar circumstances. OH NO! Somebody took some corn from Farmer’s Market! Alert the media!
You’re right, Frank Jones. Nashville has not succumbed to the normal mass looting because most everybody is busy caring about and helping their fellow Nashvillians in trouble. We are a great city!
How can or would you take a jab at New Orleans? 1 million people were displaced by a man made disater? 500,000 homes and business distroyed. People could not return home for 40 days. You have got to be kidding? 2500 people died. WTF. You people (we are Tenn)? WTF.. yall need to think about what your saying. Also looting was for survival, not TVs. I was a fan of Nashville, but will never return reading how insensitive your entier community has reacted….. This volunteer will help somewhere else!
Mike, You IGNORANT idiot! The percentage of looters after this tragic disaster was negligable. The people of Nashville did not sit on their lazy a$$es and wait for “daddy government” to come and rescue them. They got up, got out, and took care of themselves and their neighbors. The city will take months, even years to rebound and rebuild, but we WILL rebound and rebuild. The media sits like monkeys on a fence (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil) as they protect the most inept president in American history for his stupidity and lack of response. Do you remember Katrina when they jumped all over George Bush?…..That was another natural disaster…another force of nature, but that president was demonized. There are many things to fauilt Bush for, but Katrina was a media fest that was unnecessary. The people of Tennessee have risen to the occassion and shown what AMERICAN spirit is. I find it so sad that others feel it is the job of the government to provide everything and to rescue them when something bad happens. Nashville, and all of Tennessee has so much to be proud of. I am NOT a Nashville native or even a Tennessee native, but I am proud to now call Nashville home. Well done Nashville, well done Tennessee!!!!
You are exactly correct. I am currently in Destin Fl. When I first read the well written piece I looked to see if I had packed my Preds Cap so I could wave it and shout “YES!”. Unfortunately I hadn’t. But as I thought about the article this afternoon on the beach here is what I’ve concluded. It is mostly untrue. Not intentionally; hovever I don’t think the writer has been watching the same news that the rest of the world has been watching. Albeit, I’m not there to see for myself. Here is what I’ve experienced 450 miles from the flood:
I’ve seen live reports every morning and night coming from Nashville —all three networks, Fox, Cnn and the Weather Channel. Monday and Tuesday it was all over the the local news here including video. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve seen the flooding on I-24 with the church building floating and coming apart in the past 72 hours. Almost every place we went on Monday and Tuesday I overheard folks talking about the Great Flood in Nashville and how tragic it was. Heard a few today. Many made reference to the Opryland Hotel. Which by the way was not even close to being destroyed. The CEO of Gaylord said today that he hoped to be back in business by July. He had earlier said by Christmas. Opry Mills will also be open in a few months. On Fox or NBC Mayor Dean said a billion dollars might be the price tag. One billion dollars is a lot of money. There are a lot of zeroes between one billion and “billions”.
As bad as it is I doubt that it is the worse non hurricane disaster (as far as destruction) in American History or even close. Some folks in Chicago or California might take exception to that. Obama has already declared it a disaster in possibly record time. FEMA is on the scene. Not sure that is a plus or minus.
I did hear about looting on the national news. They interviewed a policeman and reported that Franklin was under a dusk to dawn curfew because of looting. My son emailed to say there had been a lot of looting in Riverwalk and that the cops were cruising around shining their spotlights between the houses on Tuesday night.
But he is correct I heard much more about the outreach from the good people to help others whom they don’t even know — folks like I saw a video to of a guy named Rob McDonald picking up a stranded 90 year old woman at River Plantation. As bad as it was for her she still managed a hug e ear to ear smile. It brought tears to my eyes What an example to the rest of us when we are in difficult times. But the truth even with all the Rob McDonalds and the thousands of volunteers and 700 prisoners who saved the water plant, we can’t handle it on our own. We’ve got to have Federal Help. Too many of us had no insurance; not because we were irresponsible but because this was a 500 year event ( The Corp of Eng says 1000). It feels good to say we can handled it ourselves but that isn’t true. It is bigger than us. Those poor folks who lost it all would certainly disagree with the writer’s final conclusion.
Speaking of conclusions I came to the conclusion that whoever wrote that article is infected with he same bug that the African- American in North Nashville is infected. The one who said on the news that the “rescue efforts are ignoring the poor folks in North Nashville to take care of the rich folk in Bellevue and Brentwood”. The bug I’m referring to is the ‘Us Against Them Bug”. I believe it to capable of destroying our great Nation if we don’t all draw a line in our hallowed ground. We say we are One Nation Under God and many of us hold that truth to be sacred but regardless of our political strips we act less and less act like we are one.
John
John — very well said and well written. you had my attention the entire comment.
I agree with you John. My heart goes out to all those in Nashville that are going through this tragedy. I have friends who live there, too. As in any natural disater of this magnitude, it takes not only a village but a country to come together.
I get really tired of comparisons and finger pointing, whether it be Katrina, Nashville, North, South. We are all ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!! We are all human beings who need to come together to help those in need.
I am originally from New Orleans, and I felt terible for friends and family during Katrina. I have lived in Portland, Oregon for 24 yrs. So, yes, I guess I am an Oregonian, too.
I guess what I am trying to say is that, it doesn’t matter where we come from, where we live. What should matter first and foremost is that we are all human beings living in this world that God has created. Instead of negative comparisons, judgements against others, cotastrophes like these are about humanity and coming together to help our fellow men.
I believe there are good people and bad in the world. It has nothing to do with location, color, race, religion, etc. We need to take the time to focus on helping and re-building, loving and caring, and lots of prayers and support. This is what we all need at a time like this.
So I say to all the wonderful people in Nashville who are going through a terrible time. My thoughts, prayers, and love is with you all. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND MAY WE ALL COME TOGETHER AS A NATION WHO CARES ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!
All my love, Cindy
Thank you Cindy for your well wishes and prayers and you are so right we should act as one people and thank God for our country and help each other no matter where we come from!!!
Gerri from Old Hickory
Mike, were you one of the looters?? Must be since you know so much about what happened.
I am glad there are more people like Patton in this city than there are people like you. I’d like you to tell the thousands of people who have nothing and have nowhere to go, whose lives were swept away, who lost their loved ones to “stop feeling sorry for yourself”. Stay classy Mike
Nashville, please don’t despare because people do care. I am sure you will experience that soon.
“Also the reason we’re not up everyone’s noses around the world 24-7 about the flood? THERE’S OTHER NEWS BESIDES US! Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Damn!”
Dude… nobody ‘feeling sorry for themselves’, as I took it.
Feeling PROUD that our self-reliance is plenty enough, just like my family and friends in Hopkins Co. Kentucky after the ’05 F4 tornado ripped through (for the record FEMA was hands-off for that one, too), or the ice storm that had millions of Western Kentuckians without power for weeks.
NO, please don’t send ‘official’ federal help. Give a government the responsibility of ‘taking care of you’ and you concurrently relinquish the right of self-determination. NO, country folks will take care of themselves, thank you.
Now, maybe if Hank Jr. was quoted on national media as saying that the reason we got no FEMA help is because “Obama doesn’t like red-necks” (j/k remember Kanye after Katrina?).
And that’s all I have to say about that.
“Give a government the responsibility of ‘taking care of you’ and you concurrently relinquish the right of self-determination.”
Thank you. Says it all, doesen’t it? In all things.
God Bless those in Nashville.
compared to other tragedies in the past, we had no problem with looting. i mean really… the farmers market…. come on dude. carrying televisions, new jordans, other random non-necessity items in front of the news cameras… that’s looting!! you are a “really awesome guy” mike. so glad we have people like you around here to keep us on our toes and remind us that some people really do suck. thanks mike
How do we know Mike is from Nashville? If he was here and seeing all the devastation and hurting people he would feel a little sympathy…….Maybe…… or maybe not!
There always has to be a negative rotten apple in the group doens’t there. And it is you Mike. If farmers market is the worst that can be found for now…… wake up…… compare to other similiar incidents ……. I don’t think anyone is feeling sorry for themselves…. I think they are feeling honored and proud to have the community support and understanding. My opinion… you don’t seem to fit the community spirit… eer considered moving?….. sure there would be volunteers to help you do that as well.
Mike,
Why don’t you take a shit and fall back in it.
That’s all,
-b
Ah, you gotta love these hit-and-run comments (not). Leave it to some ignorant douchebag with the power of the internet to pretend like he is a know-it-all, leaving a single negative comment amongst the positive, then never returning. It’s these kinds of insects that pollute our world.
Mike A, even though you will never read let alone reply to these comments, there is a name for people like you — “internet tough guy”. Go back to your shameful life, and never set one foot in Tennessee, or I will personally castrate you.
I completely agree Mike. I don’t know why the author didn’t the author just say the reason we were ignored is because he was a higher class of people than the scum that live in Noew Orleans. Instead the author says ” large part of the reason that we are being ignored is because of who we are.” Give me a break!
Your article, in my opinion, hit the truth dead on. The people of this area are “taking care” of business. This is what America is about and proof that we do not need the government to tell us how much salt to use or which health care program we have to take out. At least in Nashville, they are pulling together not against each other. It’s a Nashville state of mind! Thank you to all the volunteers who are willing to help out their less fortunate neighbors!
Beautifully written. God bless you Nashville. I’m so thankful my son, grandson and his girlfriend were finally able to make it back to Owensboro, Kentucky after being stranded in Nashville. My son said, “mom the water was up to the top of my Tundra, and we saw horses swimming along side of us.” My heart go out to all there.
why is it that whenever someone writes/says something positive, someone has to pee pee all over it by picking a fight or being argumentative? of course there are exceptions to this article–there will always be someone who will take advantage and resort to looting. it doesn’t make it right, but if you have no food or a way to get it, it stands to reason that this sort of thing will happen. I’m not justifying this, but i’m saying it’s no reason to condemn the article just because you have a dispute with it. i don’t believe that he meant to suggest that there was absolutely NO ONE taking advantage–the point of the article is the spirit of the city, not a straight news story on the crime beat. i don’t think his comment about looting diminishes the story at all. a week or so down the road when the stores dry out a little–then we’ll see about looting.
Well I can say that there were family members both in Florida and Texas waiting on pins and needles to see if all the family made it ok. We have one home flooded of all of them (there are several) Thank the Lord. It was widely known and published on facebook, especially for the families.
So glad, someone gets it.
I completely agree with this article that was written in response to the flood here in our lovely nashvegas! I live in the pennington bend area and our whole neighborhood was under water within minutes of the damns being opened.
The part that baffles me is that our city was so concerned with the bomb in New York, etc. that they could not even let the citizens of their city know that they were realeasing the damns! They couldn’t even get on the same page to tell people to evacuate!
The water came so quickly in our neighborhood that I didn’t even have time to grab belongings all I had time to grab were my animals and RUN! Our neighborhood filled so quickly and what baffles me is how come our neighborhood wasn’t important enough for the emergency crews to come and rescue our neighbors? Why was it that neighbors got their boats out and went and bought rafts to save the stranded people from the back of the neighborhood. Why is it that Opryland guests could go to McGavock High school but why no one from my neighborhood was allowed in? what is that all about? is it because they were paid or what? I mean there was no where for half of us to go or stay.
I believe that in light of all that has happened that everyone in this city needs to come together as a community and help others. Do not have the mentality that… “Oh Well your house is already under water so what’s the point in helping” (Which by the way, I have been told this by several people). some people in our city are using this as a laughing stock, they are throwing out racist commments and slandering their neighbors. We are in a time of minor crisis and the last thing that this city needs is mindless, heartless people to get in the way!!
As a Katrina Survivor and one who claims Nashville as my home town. I applaud you for your article. I have been watching the news for any tidbit I can find on this tragedy in Nashville. There just isn’t much out there. I lived in Nashville all my life and then in New Orleans for 10 years. After Katrina …I left. I didn’t want to go through another hurricane for one..but I was also appalled at the behavior of some of the people of Louisiana, its governor, and the mayor of New Orleans. Living in New Orleans post Katrina was like living in a war zone. I am so proud to hear that the citizens of Nashville and the surrounding areas have risen above the craziness of human desperation to reach out helping hands to one another. I am just saddened however, that the media does not find this kind of bravery, selflessness and charity to one another news worthy. Nashville, hold your head up…you are an example to anyone unfortunate enough to experience a natural disaster. You have shown just what stern stuff you are made of. And i am proud to call you my home town.
Shame on you!!! I have family that lived through Katrina and where they lived, people did come together and help each other, Unfortunately, the media made it so ugly by focusing on the ugly stuff. I live in Portland, but I care about the Nashville friends as much as I did for my frinds and family going through Katrina.
This is not the time to comapare and judge. People need to stop wasting time doing that and start spending time trying to help those in need.
They are all horrible, horrible disasters. And many people suffer through them. Try prayer and being positive instead of putting down how other disasters were handled. We do not know what we would do until things happen. It is obviously the worst flood in Nashville in 500 yres. Katrina was the worst hurricane for N.O. in over 100 yrs. Sometimes we are just not prepared for these kind of things. So I ask of you, that while you obviously love Nashville as I do, Think before you speak when talking about people from Katrina. This is a very sensitive subject to all who went through it and to all their loved ones who felt helpless, praying to hear that there friends and families were O.K. People such as I, waiting on the sidelines in Portland, and feeling completely helpless as there was nothing I coul do but wait.
When I pray, I pray for all. I don’t specify my prayers by state or country. Maybe the world would be a little better off if we all did this!!!
Thank you Cindy. My brother and his family live in Nashville. We live in New Orleans and survived Katrina. While our hearts break for those in Nashville it is an unfair comparison to relate 24 hours of rain to 4 weeks of standing water. Nashville was able to begin recovery the very next day. We were not allowed back in our homes for weeks. When you are blocked from entering your city, you have no choice but to rely on help from others. Until one has been stranded for that length of time in a city filled with water and no help in sight, it is difficult to say with any accuracy what you would do to survive.
Jessica, very well put. I get so tired of the comparisons. I hope you and your family have been able to recover and re-build your lives. God Bless You!!!
Thanks for your insight, Jessica. While both cities suffered horribly, one really can’t compare the two equally. I live just north of New Orleans, and had many, many friends and family suffer unimaginable hardships in the aftermath of Katrina. Some fled the city for their lives, never to return to their homes, as there literally -still- is nothing to return to. The Blame Game wins nobody points here, y’all. Yes, some people behaved abominably after the failure of the federal levees and the innundation of the city. Yes, some were African-American. Some were also killed for trying to cross a bridge to safety. People were scared, people were desperate, thousands of people died. Please folks . . . try not to judge.
Very well written. I am also proud of our state. We are the VOLUNTEER STATE and we proved it last weekend. I am also proud of the way we helped our neighbors instead of stole from them. We lifted each other up in prayer, instead of lifting their possessions. We helped clean up instead of creating havoc. We are the perfect example of Southern Hospitality. We are a wonderful community and state. Even if we don’t make the news, it doesn’t matter. We know that we have suffered great loss. Even if we didn’t make CNN, it doesn’t matter, we made it into each other’s hearts. Prayers continue to go up for the victims of this catastrophe and their families. CNN can’t offer us that.. We continue to “help thy neighbor” not because we might make it on TV, but because we might make a difference that day. We continue to offer assistance and we don’t need national coverage…we need to be thankful we are in Tennessee!!!!!
While your words are very heartfelt, I have to disagree with you about people not caring of about you (the city, Floods in Nashville) not getting coverage. Here in New York as recently as this morning 5/5/10 the tragedy in Nashville was still very much apart of our local news. I have friends in Nashville and care very much as do many of my fellow New Yorkens.
I am deeply sadden by your losses and devastation however, I feel that more can be gained by simply asking people to do thier best to help Nashville and surrounding areas rebuild rather than leaving a bad taste in the mouths of non-TN residents as I felt after reading this blurb. I am a very kind-hearted, caring person who would give the shirt off my back without even being asked and pride myself on inspiring all whom I encouter to adopt the same practices. When I first hear the news I reached out to all my TN friends and sent my prayers and well wishes. Not stopping there I am making efforts to help out friends where I can. In closing I would like to say that people all over this world battle & brave devastation on a daily basis. It’s only when it hits home that it becomes personal and you/we actualy being to care or even PAY ATTENTION. My heart goes out to you all. The residents of TN & MS are now and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. GOD BLESS !!!!
I agree to all whole-heartedly. I am from Columbia TN, but now live in western NY. I am just sick and sad about all I have seen and heard. I have friends who have till yet even been allowed back to their homes to see the devastation. But I must say Mr. Patten, you also brought me to tears with your statements about our great city. I only wish I were closer to do more hands-on participation. Thank you to all who have commented and God bless to all who have mountains to move. You are in my thoughts and prayers now and for the days and months to come as the rebuilding begins.
really? a blog on a hockey site can “leave a bad taste in your mouth” for an entire city.
I’m a transplant from California.But I’m sure glad to call Nashville home.Seems to me one reason we have coped so well is because we are happy people here. And happy people don’t do crazy things , they love and take care of each other.
You should be proud of your city and the good people who live there. I pray you will stay safe and will find good people everywhere helping each other. I’m sure it will get worse before it gets better. Stay strong and show the world how it’s done the right way…
I’ve set here and read a lot of the comments. Am a retired Nashville Paramedic. In my 32 yrs, I haven’t seen such a flood that we experienced. Come pretty close. We are Nashville and there’s going to be people that take advantage of a situation. There is a lot of population in Nashville and the flood effected probably 50 % or more of that populace, however, the Cumberland River spans all of Middle Tn and the Duck River is a main river dumping in the Tennessee. The Harpeth River runs through and dumps into the Cumberland. There were lots of heroic efforts this past weekend rescuing a lot of people in the counties that house these rivers. While setting and listening to my scanner(yes, I still do that and wife, well, nuff said)to all of the calls, I heard ‘no one has any contact with Hickman County’. That was a scary feeling. To know that in this day and time, we can lose communications with a county. And they weren’t the only county that had problems. If you live in a rural area, volunteer, go to the classes the local safety office offers for helping yourself.
Nashville still has water problems with one water plant operating. People who live out in the counties may be boiling water for months coming out of their wells. These are the people who furnish vegetables for that Farmers Market and make their living from that. Kudos to Nashville Fire and the local Rescue Squads and citizens who got out in this mess and helped their neighbors. Those of you from the north, we’re glad to have ya. You made to the good life. Relax, this to will pass. As for slavery, we can’t re-do the past, get over it. You, I’m afraid are slaves to your own thinking. And Mike, you’re probably a nice guy, socialize a little, get to know your neighbors, and try to be a more positive person, I’ll bet you’ll be a better person
How true, and how sad. To many of us, the continued – and continual -talk about Katrina and poor New Orleans five years afterward are nigh onto sickening. Nashville, like most places, pulled herself up by her bootstraps and kept going on her own. Greensburg (tornado), Xenia (tornado), Pensacola (hurricane), and so much of Mississippi, hit by the very same hurricane that got New Orleans, quietly rebuilt. No looting, no shooting at rescuers, no big splash about how unfair it all is. Nashville, good luck and we’ll see you later.
It seeem like you are one of those talking about Katrina–5 yrs. later my friend. It was horrible to everyone affected by it, Unfortunately people lik you want to think the worse of New Orleans because of how the media portrayed it. There are wonderful people there just as in Nashville. Why does everyone have to make such negative comparisons? Were you there? Did you go through all the heartache? Obviously not. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT MY LITTLE UNINFORMED FRIEND!!!!!
Dear Cindy,
These people mean well. There is no need to be so bitter. It is hard to look back on Katrina with the devastation it caused us all. We DID have some really bad things that happened in N.O., I know you are trying to be positive, but just because we made it through Katrina and there were many good Samaritans along the way, doesn’t mean that we handled it just as well as TN. It is beautiful how we had so many people who helped out in Katrina (truly heart warming) but for Nashville to come together as a whole meaning without shooting at rescue squads, a nursing home losing its bus to carjackers, shots fired at helicopters airlifting people out of the Superdome, Some officers who had been stranded on the roof of a hotel were shot at, and the list goes on and on. They have gone relatively unscathed from this tragedy, I think that John who Posted May 5, 2010 at 7:04 PM really nailed this story on the head… if any of you havent read this PLEASE DO. I don’t think it does any injustice.
Dear Blessed friend, If you read all my different comments from the top down, I don’t think you would think I am a bitter person. And even if you did, that’s o., because people who know me know that isn’t true.
The point I was trying to make in the beginning was how much I praise Batten’s eloquent, beautiful piece he wrote on the Nashville floodin. I have friends there just as I had friends and family who went through Katrina. It was the looters and that group of drug crazed people in New Orleans that the media focused on. There are many wonderful people there, too. I just get tired of every cotastrophe being compared to the horrible destruction of Katrina in so many ways.
The point I was trying to make, is that we need to stop making this about politics, location, slavery(one person brought that into the conversation)and focus on what’s really going on here. Our friends are going through a horrible thing. That’s what my focus is on. My thoughts and prayers are with them all. Before people become so judgmenatal about things they are so informed about. They need to stop and think about what they are saying. The last time I checked, WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!! We need to pull together and support the people that need us. It isn’t a stste to state thing, north or south, etc. Those kind of comments are idiotic. Its about people coming together no matter where we are. I think if you read all the posts you’ll see how negative some of these posts are.
your well-written piece did not fall on deaf ears. anderson cooper on cnn, publicly apologized to middle tennesseans last night, admitting that even he did not realize the severity of the floods because of the gulf coast and times square news. he is bringing his crew to nashville thursday, so that the whole world will know what has happened.
I am not from Nashville, but I have loved it for years. It is our family’s favorite getaway. Our entire extended family(about 70 of us) spend the entire weekend b4 Christmas at the Opryland Hotel. We have done that for years. When Nashville wasn’t getting coverage – I was dumbfounded. Then I got mad. Yes, it is because no one was screaming for media attention. No one was killing and stealing. No one was running down the street with big screen TVs. No movie star was organizing a telethon. It was just people helping people. No news there. Iowa was swept under the rug when they flooded. So was Galveston about a week after their hurricane. That says a lot about the ethic of the people. “Everyone go on about your business. We’ve got this. We’ll be fine.” LOVE YOU NASHVILLE!!!!!!
The way residents of NASHVILLE ARE HANDLING THIS DISASTER SHOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. God’s people are to love one another as God loves us. The Bible says disasters like never seen before will come.
I am from Paducah, KY…. the Cumberland River flows downstream into our area and we are sandbagging as I speak. To think that I haven’t heard about the disaster in Nashville is an understatement. It’s all over the news here and all over the Weather Channel, still. The sad thing is more rain is expected this weekend. My prayers are with all you folks in Nashville. Two winters ago, we had a winter ice storm that affected millions of people through Arkansas and Kentucky. I personally was without power for 2 weeks and it was freezing! We also got very little coverage on the news. We’re on the New Madrid Fault, so what’s next? An earthquake of enormous magnitude? I don’t think anyone is safe anywhere these days. Whether is be nature driven or man-driven (ie, the oil spill) it appears as though Mother Earth is trying to tell us something….
Feel free to visit the above link to see how the Nashville Flood has affected Kentucky. The water has to go somewhere… it’s called, downstream. I certainly don’t discount what’s happening in Nashville, but we are getting affected by it too!
Just click on “Paducah News”
Like the sign over the stadium east of here says..I WILL GIVE MY ALL FOR TENNESSEE!
I second that. I love your passion on this matter. Next time, Maybe try to leave the comparisons to Katrina out. There weere many good people ther, too. This is not the time to be offensive toward another city. It is the time for all of us to come together and help in any way we can. I will be making donations as I did in Katrina. And my thoughts and prayers are with all the wonderful people in Nashville!!!
Where the hell is the press and Obummer? Where are the Tennessee politicans raising hell about this incompetence???
Okay, I’ve read enough whinning about the no press issue. We got press and we will get more. The most important press we needed and got was our local telling us what was happening minute by minute and where to avoid going, etc. As devastating as our flood was, as costly as it will be and as sad as we all are that there were precious lives lost, this was not a Kartrina event. Praise God! And, Praise God we had very competent leadership here in Nashville. Our city officials did an excellent job of handling it. Neighbors helped neighbors just as they did in New Orleans and all the areas Katrina affected. As for the Obama slur, our President signed the disaster relief request the moment he got it and FEMA was already here. I do not know what kind of incompetence you are referring to Irish. What? You think he needs to come to Nashville to survey the damage? I think the hundreds of gallons of oil being spilled into the Gulf is a little more severe than what we have experienced. Don’t get me wrong, this was a big old fat deal for us here in Nashville, but I’m proud of the way we as a community have handled it and not an excuse to start spewing the I hate Obama retoric. Geez!
I agree, very well said. Our prayers are with you, Nashville because We are America
DITTO!
I’ve never been to Nashville but it sounds like a great place. It’s nice to know there are Americans out there like this! We’ve actually heard the news and it’s a bit of the buzz but I’m sure we can’t even comperehend. We’ll keep you all in our prayers.
Craig Ferguson made a plea for help and presented the info for Red Cross Website and their text (90999) to donate $10. Peter Frampton who was delayed and prevented from flight into Nashville and who’s equipment is sitting underwater in storage has vowed fund raising concerts for you. He has personal experience in tragedy and loss. We haven’t forgotten you, the news stations have. God Bless
I appreciate the comments here. We are a village. We are a village that cares for our own regardless of how long we have known each other. It is not about history, its about community connection, a sense of belonging that stems from who we are as a people. It will only be made stronger by this. There is pain and hardship, but there is also new connections made here that will last for lifetimes. New freindships created by hardship that will last into positive times after this has past that will make our community one that is closer.
DITTO!!!!! SHARON
I only knew the gravity of this flood from a friend who lives there, then learned more by reading media outlets in your area. The civility and chivlary shown by the people of Nashville gives me hope that the true American spirit is alive and well. The national media may not appreciate your struggles and your triumphs, but many of your fellow Americans do indeed. God bless you!
Very well put. I couldnt have said it any better. Thanks so much !!!!!
I live in the shadows of Nashville, Cheatham County. We are swimming too. The people in middle Tennessee are kind, caring individuals. We don’t just say that, we show it! We volunteer around the world, of course, we will take care of our own. GO VOLUNTEERS!
Good Luck Nashville!! A year ago today, Montgomery, AL was hit with a flash flood. It was a 100 year flood. It was horrible all the damage it did. We had 1 minute on the national news and we were like you, the city came together and did what needed to be done. With that said, I now know what we went through was nothing compared to Nashville. Everyone here is thinking of ya’ll and halfway know what you are going through. Nashville is a great city! You will rebuild and be much stronger!!
Now that I have stopped crying long enough to see the screen, I want to tell you Tennessee is in my heart. What I don’t think has set in yet is the lose of community, the drug store down the street, the station on the corner where you get your gas. Did your mechanic make it through? Do you know how are it is to find a good mechanic only to lose him to a flood. How about the couple down the street with the little girl will they still be there?
You guys have a long road ahead of you but I have faith you will pull through just fine because that is just who you are. It reminds me no one heard about hurricane Rita that hit west Louisiana a few weeks after Katrina and caused even more damage but those people did like ya’ll. They got in their boats and went out and got their neighbors.
Wow well said is right! I am very sorry that this happened and is still happening. The news of the flood was touched on here for less than 15 min. and I feel that is wrong. Good for Nashville for dealing with this disaster with your southern charm, and courtesy. I wish you all the best, my heart goes out to everyone affected, and I grieve for those lost in this horrible tragedy.
Patten Fuqua/writer of We are nashville – You have good points when referencing the Nashville flood. Act of God that has no fault or blame, like Hurrican Katrina etc. However, you seperate yourself by far with accessibility, knowledge, strength, and many more words that don’t compare or state what reality is for most people. I pray for everyone in every city that has been affected. But to you-what did you do to help versus point out how much of the “we” (nashville) is compared to other disasters? Some people don’t have the means to handle situations. The media can be a friend or enemy to some and the media can highlight others in a dark way or in the light. Which one got “highlighted” for the better? But what did you do in all disaster situations when the media placed blame?
DD – That NO was almost destroyed by Hurricane Katrina is another of the myths surrounding the whole disaster. NO actually fared quite well throughout the storm itself; it was the failure of the federal levee system that caused all the havoc. And the federal government KNEW YEARS IN ADVANCE that a Category 4 or 5 hurricane would devastate the region. And did nothing. Computer models played it out, articles were written, presentations given . . . nothing was done to prevent the damage.
And that should be a criminal offense, IMHO.
Nashville is like a second hometown to me. I love it there. I want to retire there here in a few years. It is one of the most beautiful cities I have even been to.
However, because I have family there, I was greatly interested in following the flood story everyday. I never had much of a problem seeing it on the local news for a few days after it started. A couple of national news stations also made updates. And the Internet was full of pictures and stories.
Perhaps, not as much as I would have liked to see, but it was out there.
Keep in mind, power outages prevent many from Nashville from seeing the news while others in the country tuned in daily for updates. Flooding also prevent certain types of interviews and even access.
Again, I still would have loved to see a lot more coverage, but it wasn’t totally ignored.
Churches all across the nation still have prayer groups and relief programs active.
May God bless the whole state.
Your friend,
Steven
Well said Patten. We are Nashville.
How about “WE ARE THE WORLD.”
Cindy- this post is not about the world. It is about Nashville! WE ARE NASHVILLE and that is why we will survive! We obviously are very much involved in our country……I know tons of people who went to Gulf to help after Katrina, and I volunteered at the local shelters.
His article was written because we only received about 1 minute on the national news sites WHILE this was going on…..I know because I watched CNN, and barely saw a mention. I am sure there were good people in Katrina, but unfortunately the negative people are what attracted the attention…..something we simply did not have in our town (or very little).
I understand your frustrations, but I think maybe you need to realize this is something that we are proud of at this time, and please stop trying to be negative about it!
oh Amy, GROW UP. If you had taken the time to read my other posts you would understand that my comments are very sincere. WE ARE THE WORLD–WHETER ITS NASHVILLE, NEWORLEANS, HAITI. Its about humans from everywhere coming together to help those in a time of need. I don’t think kindness and support begins and ends in Nashville. So GET OVER YOURSELF AND TRY STEPPING OUT OF YOUR BUBBLE. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are suffering through this cotastrophe. AND YES, THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cindy–
I did read your other posts, and that is why I can tell you are not sincere. You are for Nashville in one post, and yell at someone supporting us in another. I just read this for the first time yesterday and I was very disappointed in all of the negative comments that were made by this blog, for which he was simply trying to say he was proud of our city! Why can someone not say something supportive without people twisting everything around?
I have not heard one person in this town comparing this disaster to Katrina, and we all understand this doesn’t compare. The nation will never see footage of all of the people trapped on their roofs to be rescued, trapped on cars, etc– not because it didn’t happen, but because it was still pouring rain… our emergency workers and volunteers made over 1500 rescues in the actively rising waters. I am proud of them for working so hard to save peoples lives, just as this article says. We are not full of ourselves here, we are simply proud of our town. If you don’t like the way we say that, I am sorry, but I will not apologize about being proud of my city.
And by the way- I am, in NO way in a bubble! I just went to Africa this last year to help perform surgeries on children at a hospital and as I said, I will always help out!! I just don’t understand why right after someone said “WE ARE NASHVILLE”…….you said “How about We are the World?”
What was your purpose in saying that? It was an obvious jab for no reason….and that is why it hit me the wrong way. Maybe you should look at it from our view and see why it looks like a rude comment…….instead of being so quick to judge me!
Amy, if you spent more time helping those people in need and less time on here scolding people for exercising their FREEDOM OF SPEECH, you might sound a little more sincere yourself. Being a physician myself and helping around the world maybe you should put your money where your mouth is my friend.
I have said nothing whatsoever negative about Nashville. I have friends who live there that I am trying to help get through this horrible time.
I think you need to check yourself. Why so defensive? I have shared my views with the author, and he hasn’t re-acted the way you have.
Maybe you are one of the people not so nice in Nashville. Get out and help people if you live there. LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE FOR EXPRESSING THEIR FEELINGS, my pathetic little friend!!!!!
Patten – I have to admit that while reading this it did 3 things to me:
1) gave me chills
2) brought a tear to my eye
3) made me very proud to call Middle TN my home
Well done sir!
glad im not the only one who teared up while reading this!
I teared up as well. Very well written.
Kristen — I couldn’t have said it better. Ditto!
Well said, sir. All the best to those affected in whatever way possible. And I also am proud to be a lifelong Middle Tennessean.
Beautifully said and oh so very true!
Very well said! I’ve thought the same thing–one reason we’re not getting as much national news coverage as we might be is that we’re pitching in and taking care of ourselves. I’m so proud to be in Nashville today!
What an amazing article.
Great article and excellent points. Thank you for reminding me how awesome the people of the Volunteer State are!
Very well said! Reading this post gave me cold chills. I feel so blessed by God to live in a community where we look out for one another, help one another and pull together in times of crisis. I am so blessed to live in Nashville and to call it my home!
EXACTLY…. THE VOLUNTEER STATE!
I am all the way here in North Central Texas, but am a very frequent visitor to Nashville. I am soo proud of what the citizens of that GREAT STATE have accomplished on their own. Y’all should have pockets of humanitarism in EVERY STATE! The world just might be a better place.
I’ve learned more through FaceBook about this horrific event than any news!
MarinaGirl…..come work one day @ my TV station…then tell me Facebook is better than local Nashville TV News coverage. Go back to Texas stupid!
Geez, Greg…bitter much? I have to agree with Marinagirl. I was out of state when all this happened and I got better and more accurate info from my pals on FB than I did from watching the local Nashville news via the internet. And certainly there were far better pictures of the damage on FB. Sorry, but social networks kicked your behinds on this one!
Wow, Greg… I think she was actually showing support- as in, decrying the lack of NATIONAL coverage we’ve gotten. She’s in TX, remember- isn’t seeing your local Nashville TV News coverage.
It’s a stressful time… let’s continue to handle ourselves with grace, shall we? After all, that’s what this article is all about.
Thank you for the excellent coverage our local news has been doing on this tragedy; blessings on you as you continue to keep our wonderful city informed.
She didn’t mean that in a bad way. How if she lives in Texas is she going to watch your local news station? I know you must be stressed with all that is going on and we all appreciate the news coverage you have shown, but she’s right, that is just about the only way of her finding out news about Nashville, besides being there. I really think you should retract your comment and apologize, but that’s your conscience not mine. Have a blessed day.
Send her the websites for the media, fox, abc, nbc and cbs. Also, YouTube.They have excellent videos. That is what I did for my out of state friends.
Is there a reason for name calling? Way to be immature. She’s clearly saying that it’s a disaster that isn’t being focused on by the news media and that has a stronger presence among social media.
Anyway, good article. Thanks!
Dearest Greg,
You are a fucking idiot.
If she lives in Texas, how could she see local Nashville TV news coverage?
I’m sure she’s heard more on facebook than local TEXAS TV news coverage.
This is possible. I have family in Arkansas and Arizona both. They went online and saw NASHVILLE’S local news. There are videos etc. archived of all this. Internet is a handy thing. I too heard more about all the tragedy on FaceBook than the news channels. I see more new pictures everyday only because people are out and about EVREYWHERE taking pictures of this & of course they are going to be put on people’s facebook. It’s a social networking site…of course we will see pictures and gossip about all this on there. I live here in Nashville and was in the middle of all this mess…Even me going thru it I see more and more on Facebook everyday that I STILL haven’t seen or heard about from news stations…
You are very bitter, Greg. She was probably talking about national media attention, since she does live in Texas. I live in IL, orginally from TN and last I checked, we don’t get wsmv up here.
I believe what she was trying to say there hot rod…is that she has learned more from facebook than NATIONAL news coverage! Yes all of our local stations did an amazing job but the national media dropped us!
Wow, Greg. Nice. Any reason to start trash talking those of us in Texas? Uhm, I learned about the floods in TN thanks to Twitter & Facebook. I’ve seen much more about it on Twitter & Facebook over the past several days then I have on any national news station. Matter of fact, if you want to get your news fast, just watch Twitter & Facebook. I almost always find out about things before it gets national news coverage there.
I am so impressed with how the people of TN & Nashville have handled this flood. It is simply horrible – and I’ve seen several floods over the years here in Houston, not to mention Hurricane Ike. (You know, where we didn’t have looting in Houston either.) I hope that people all over learn from the lessons the people of Nashville have taught us. Except for Greg’s attitude about her *POSITIVE* comment.
Greg is that comment really necessary? I am from Tennessee and now live in South Texas. I absolutely agree with MarinaGirl. If you aren’t here why judge so harshly. I have many friends and family that are very close to me that are in Nashville, so I absolutely have seen more coverage on Facebook from my friends and family then what I have on the news. In Nashville there was non-stop coverage. Here in Texas at least where I live there has been very little coverage. Even the Today show only did about a 45 second segment about it. She wasn’t trying to be negative she was stating a fact that unless you are in Tennessee or surrounding stated there has not been a lot of coverage, and that local Tennessee people have really risen to the challenge during a very hard time.
Greg, you are an idiot. She lives in North Texas; maybe you can’t read. I’ve heard this same thing from all over the Nation. No/very little National coverage. Most people don’t do a “Nashville News” search each day. You get a life and get outa TN. Moron!
She is right, FB has had an enormous amount of info. Let’s not be immature and start name calling. She was just stating her opinion. I can see you are very partial to your news station.
Greg, your comment is unintelligent, completely uncalled for and a shameful embarrasment for Tennesseans. Kindly delete it.
AMEN, JENNIFER!
Greg, That gal from Texas is dead on. I have spoken to friends and family in Michigan, California, Virginia and Florida…and it was DAYS before any of them saw a thing on their news about the devistation that hit Nashville. Without FB, the media might have let it lie…..
You are a professional working at a t.v. station and yet call someone stupid. REALLY? IS THAT THE BEST YOU’VE GOT. Maybe you should be fired and let Marina take your place. MORON!!!
Haha, poor Greg.
Greg..I was out of town too.. didnt know what was going on until I looked at facebook..
This is such a great post! I couldn’t agree more. Well said!
I just love this. Thank you so much for writing such a poignant piece about our amazing city and our people here. If there was one thing I saw this weekend more than rain, it was compassion.
Great article, thank you for sharing.
I lived for almost four years in Nashville and then moved back to Iowa and in 2008 we experienced a 500 year flood in our community. The whole downtown was underwater. And we got some coverage, but like you are saying, not a lot. Floods aren’t very sexy.
The people of Iowa are praying for you and in the coming weeks and months and years (yes years… two summers later and there are still houses waiting for demolition and buyouts… still businesses that haven’t reopened) people will come and people will help. But it will mostly take you, and what you as a community decide to do to take care of yourselves that will make the biggest difference.
Fantastic article.
Rev. Katie Dawson, Eastern Iowa
Thanks so much for this. XOXO.
Rev Katie,
I was born in Iowa and several family members still live in the Anamosa/Cedar Rapids area and lost homes in that flood. I felt the same thing then-they don’t get attention because they are GOOD people-same as here.
Thank you so much for this article. I needed it today after so much news of turmoil and destruction. It took saying it out loud to make me feel better. I love Nashville, love the people, the community and the attitude. Nashville will be back better than ever because it’s what we DO!
Thanks again,
Heather
I was going to make a comment about the Iowa City floods until I got to your post, Rev. Katie. Your last sentence says it all and much better than I could have.
My heart goes out to all of Nashville.
Love this. Nashville has an unbelievable effort going to save things. Not much looting, no rioting, etc.
I read your article and sat nodding my head because it is so true. If the people of Nashville had been looting and rioting it would have been all over the news. As it was, no one I spoke to knew a lot about it other than there was a storm. It is great to see the people of Nashville helping each other out and the rest of the country should take a lesson from this.
I will however say that being a Floridian I was offended by the oil spill in the Gulf being called “sexy” . This was the second time I have seen that word used for it by a Nashville resident. There is nothing “sexy” about the oil that is continuing to dump into the Gulf. There is nothing “sexy” about the impact that it is already having on the fishing and shrimping industries and the people who depend on it to feed their families and there is nothing “sexy” about the long term affects that it will have on not only the Gulf states but eventually the entire country.
I think it bothers me so much because I have family and friends who live in Nashville. I travel there regularly and my heart breaks for the people there and the devestation to such a beautiful city but yet people from that same city make references to other crisis’s going on in this country as “sexy”. It is belittling and insensitive. I realize the media is at fault for all of it but I ask you as a citizen to stop and consider the feelings of those being affected in the Gulf states. We are not responsible for the media’s lack of support.
My prayers go out to the people of Tennessee and the other states that were affected by this storm. I hope that in my efforts to voice my opinion that I myself have not offended anyone because I truly love Nashville and the people who live there; I only ask that we all be considerate of each other.
No one called the oil spill “sexy.” Stories with environmental angles (especially of the “ooh, look at the big, evil corporation” variety) get a different sort of media play these days. “Green” stories are “sexy” in the journalism sense. I can assure you that no one is making light of the troubles in the Gulf; it would just be nice if the disaster in Middle TN–including the 19 and counting lost lives–were getting as much play. That was the point of this very moving and well-written piece.
The question is why would the floods here get the same attention as the oil spill in the Gulf? The oil spill in the Gulf not only resulted in a similar number of deaths, but was also caused by human actions. The spill comes at a time we are publicly debating expanded oil drilling, so there are lots of questions being asked and ramifications being explored. With our flooding there was simply a lot of rain, which we can’t do anything about and which doesn’t raise any particular questions on a national level.
I don’t think you are from Nashville.
This is a huge historic event for us.
So my birth certificate is wrong and what I see looking out my window right now isn’t really Nashville? How odd.
Actually, I think David seems to be the minority in Nashville that actually can use logical reasoning to assess the situation. Nashville is nice, but not the center of the world. Sorry.
i think david & joppa didn’t lose their homes and all their belongings and perhaps even a loved one and don’t have the money to rebuild. they can be cynical because their lives are relatively untouched by the flood. perhaps they should do a little volunteer work. yes, there are issues that have global impact but if everything you own is destroyed, global issues fade into the background. you need a little balance, guys.
Hi Ellen, I would never refer to the Gulf situation as sexy. I am a born and raised Nashvillian and spent a couple of years in Destin, FL and have a soft spot in my heart for the area. The horrific situation going on in the gulf would make me cry each time I saw pictures of the disaster and then the floods came here to Nashville. Now I cry over both. Both are tragic, environmentally and financially.
Great post!!
I just found your blog post from a friend on facebook posting a link to it. Thank you for saying that. I lived in Nashville…well actually Murfreesboro, for 14 years. Just moved to Chicago last June.I was in town this weekend for a cousins wedding. I was shock when my husband didn’t know about anything going on in Nashville and when I told him that all the flights were cancelled and I couldn’t get home I had to skype him and show him what our news was showing and noone elses was so he would believe me how bad it was.
You wrote this beautifully. Thank you.
Thank you for your article Patten. Very enlightening. Nashville will be in my prayers. Just watched my local news and they actually showed an image of nashville and spoke of the flooding receeding now, AND, that was the entire news about Nashville. I regret that nashvillians are not getting the coverage they deserve. As you stated… it was not terror sexy enough to cover… and I despise how our local news handles news coverage. Hopefully you will get ALL of the resources you need to help your city. You will continue to be in my prayers. Thanks again for the information you provided.
I don’t think you could have said this any better… what a great article!
Those in middle TN need some real perspective if you think the reason you didn’t have looting and crime was because you’re just a grand group of people. The Superdome took 6 days to be evacuated. You guys deal with the same conditions those in New Orleans did for 6 days and come tell us how awesome Nashville is.
But we ARE a grand group of people. Now, I’m not going to get involved in an argument over which event was worse, did more damage, was handled better or anything of that nature. I’ll just say that I’ve lived in both places for extended periods of time and have a deep love for both cities, but Nashvillians take this one without a fight.
Rational – We have neighborhoods that were completely cut off since Saturday night. It may not have been six days as it was for the Superdome, but it also didn’t take six days before crime rose to epic levels in NOLA during Katrina.
@Rational: It hasn’t even been six days. And it will take a while to get to everyone who has unfortunately drowned because the water has to receed. Nobody is comparing ourselves to New Orleans.Nor do we want to. We just want people to realize that we will prevail and we want America to know that we are a state that does what the rest of America won’t do!
What is it that the rest of America won’t do?
Take care of themselves. You know, the poor me nanny state mentality that keeps getting rammed down our throats by the feds.
I’m proud of all the Tennesseans that have shown the rest of the country that we don’t have to helpless.
You don’t think the rest of country can take care of itself? Who in particular can’t take care of themselves?
Nanny state, j henry? What are you talking about? I hear this kind of nonsense all the time. The federal government ramming something down our throats. Look, I work hard everyday and I pay my bills and my taxes. I am grateful that I can. Some folks are not as fortunate as I am. Give that nanny state crap up. No body is ramming anything down anyone’s throat. If you are fortunate enought to not need a hand up, then be grateful and offer your’s to someone who isn’t as fortunate as you. I’m proud that I live in a country that wants to provide help for the helpless. And, I am proud of the way Nashville and Middle TN as a whole has gone through this crisis. But again, this was not a Katrina event. Praise God! I am very grateful that organizations like Hands On Nashville exist and I am very grateful that for the most part, folks have good hearts and reach out a hand in a storm, literally and metaphorically. I don’t get your attidude about showing the rest of the coutnry that we don’t have to be helpless. We weren’t helpless. That doesn’t mean there aren’t situations where it has been and it doesn’t exempt us from getting into one of those kinds of situations. Way too much bravado, dude.
Another idiot on here. Those idiots in New Orleans had at least 4days to get the heck out(I know, I watched it every moment I could). We had none. Yes, we knew a lot of rain was coming, but not a 500-1000yr flood. Grow up and get a real life Moron. And even after 6 days, we in TN would have evacuated all those needing it on our own w/o Federal help. That’s just who we are. You don’t get it b/c you either don’t live here or have an agenda like the current DC administration. Have a nice pathetic life.
Hi Ben, maybe you are the IDIOT!!! Why does all this have to be compared to New Orleans. Maybe if you experienced what New Orleanians did during Katrina you would keep your idiotic, ignorant comments to yourself and feel alot different. There are wonderful people in New Orleans just as there are in Nashville. Why is it that its the uninformed, stupid people like you that have to run there mouths that they know nothing about. OH WAIT, NEVERMIND. I JUST ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION. STUPID, IGNORANT AND UNINFORMED!!!!!!!!
Ben….and all the other negative people that think yall(Nashville) did something great…. Ya didn’t!!!!! Trust me..Yall have not one clue what your are talking about. Ben you must be about 11 years old with a new computer. How can, or would you take a jab at New Orleans? Katrina missed New Orleans. The levees broke the next day!!!! People were returning home when they broke. I was one of them that was on my way home. 1 million people were displaced by a manmade disaster? 500,000 homes and business destroyed. People could not return home for 40 days. People that stayed behind or returned home were stuck on roof tops, not waiting for help, but looking to survive. You people had high ground to get to. We had roof tops and 100 degree temperatures with no food or water. You are absolutely ignorant! You have got to be kidding? 2500 people died from a manmade disaster. WTF. You people (we are Nashville)? WTF.. yall need to think about what you’re saying. Also looting was for survival, not TVs. I was a fan of Nashville, but will never return reading how insensitive your entire community has reacted….. This volunteer will help somewhere else! The only thing you need to do is ask yourself why would you take JABs at New Orleans when we have 400 people up there volunteering……… I have read 500 post and most are as dumb as yours(BEN). You can keep your proud city and your fast food restaurants. I can tell you this I will be posting every negative post an every national web site I can find to get you the exposure yall need. That yall must be the most insensitive people on the planet!
dude you couldnt not have said it better. thank you for standing up for our state and our community. you are right we dont need anybody i feel that this disater is being handle in a great way. again thanks for the words!!
I have a few issues with this post.
1. A failed car bomb estimated to have been able to kill or injure 500 people is a big deal. Not saying the Nashville floods aren’t a big deal, but I’d say the failed terrorist attack is bigger. Terror-sexy? Come on. (Although you do have a point about the oil spill.)
2. Saying that these floods were the costliest non-hurricane disaster in American history is just ignorant. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_disasters_by_death_toll
3. I don’t like the high and mighty tone of this. Hurricane Katrina got more coverage because it was a far worse disaster. Almost 2,000 people died. If there really has been no looting or other disaster-related crime (which I seriously doubt), that’s not the reason we’re not getting covered by the news. This is a smaller disaster. That’s a fact.
@ SAM
Yes, Katrina was a FAR worse disaster.We realize that, and we are greatful this was not a disaster of that magnitude. This is no small disaster, I assure you. The entire city is at a stand still. No schools, no courts,no electricity downtown and now almost no water. As far as your doubts, there really has been NO looting or disaster related crime, because WE ARE NASHVILLE, and we’re better than that!
I AM SO SORRY FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL.
1. i actually think the opposite. i think the oil spill is a much bigger story than nashville or the terrorist failure. there are failed terrorist attempts all the time. if it would have been successful, that’s another story.
2. i don’t think it’s difficult to infer that he was speaking of financial losses, not human ones.
3. Katrina was a FAR worse disaster. i don’t think anyone would dispute that. you may be surprised how bad this one is, though. no looting that i know of and i do think that keeps the media out.
this post is a rally cry for nashvillians, not meant to belittle anyone else. nothing should be taken from anything else going on, but we need help. it is rather sad that nobody knows that.
I don’t believe it was anyone intention to make light of an attempting car bombing, or an oil spill. The point is that these two things are getting media coverage and the people of the great state of TN deserve the same. I’d be willing to bet there hasn’t been any crime sprees. People are more concerned about helping their neighbors and not kicking people who have lost everything by stealing. I felt sorry for the people of New Orleans, but they were warned and for a long while and still they stayed. Nashville new heavy rains were coming, but no one could have predicted this. I hope you get the point now.
I totally agree, Joan. @Sam: I am an environmentalist and think the oil spill is definitely a big deal, but it isn’t really plausible for everyday Americans to be involved in cleaning that up at the moment. Yes, the terrorist attack is intense and could’ve been catastrophic, but the flooding in Nashville is going to hurt the middle Tennessee area economically for a while. Katrina was a TERRIBLE disaster, but those people live below flood level and were given warning of a hurricane approaching. Going into Saturday morning, I knew there was supposed to be heavy rain and thunderstorms, possibly tornadoes. I had no idea that by Sunday night my parents would evacuate their house for fear it would flood. They have lived in their house 30 years and the water got a good 10 feet higher than it ever has before. 15+ inches of rain in two days is disastrous and Nashville deserves to have it’s voice heard.
To say that bomb could have killed 500 is laughable. Way to go hook line and sinker for the “Fear the boogie man” fearmongering we call news these days.
How do I know? I built bombs for the Air Force, I am trained on EDM and EOD.
The size of the bomb was two propane tanks and some M-80s. The Murrah City bomb which took down a massive federal building in OK killed 168, mostly from the building collapse. It was comprised of a ton of high explosives. The bomb in NY was composed of 30 lbs of propane tanks with release safety release valves still in tact.
The 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks bombings killed 307 with multiple military grade explosives (each one in excess of 500 lbs). The 1993 Mumbai bombings in dense public centers killed 257. It took 13 separate bombs to accomplish that.
Stop being afraid of the boogeyman, and don’t hold strong opinions on that which you do not understand. The worst the TS bomb could have done is a pretty severe car fire on a street corner.
As to your second comment, even adjusted for inflation, it is extremely conceivable that the economic damage will be off the charts even compared to your chart – where non-hurricane disasters seem to be topping out in the $3B range. Shutting down massive amounts of the 25th largest city in the US’s primary revenue streams will easily be in that ballpark. When you taking into account how localized that loss will be (compared to say, spread across 13 states as the $3B in 2005 dollars example was) you start to get a picture of how bad it is.
3. Hurricane Katrina got more coverage because of piss poor planning by New Orleans local officials who told people “Go to the stadium” and then hightailed it for cover. Biloxi got his as hard or harder than New Orleans yet they got ~5 mins of coverage vs. the round the clock “Look at the horror” coverage Katrina got. Katrina was turned into a political tool to win elections and it’s why the problems are still being felt there today.
Hi Sam, DITTO> So nice to see there are intelligent people on here who reall do have there facts straight. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people that are bein affected by this. All disaters such as this is horrific. GOD BLESS ALL!
Exactly Sam. I agree with what you said. It doesn’t feel small to those who have damage to their homes or those who will most likely loose them all together and it especially doesn’t feel small to those who lost loved ones. But in comparison to other disasterous events, ours was manageable. Our city/state has done a good job. But there is way too much puffary going on, like “bring that Katrina on, we can tame her ass.” Our area has been declared a disaster and we will receive some federal money and those who want to bash the federal government, listen up. There are going to be some might grateful people here in Nashville who did not have flood insurance that are about to get some of those dollars. Do we have to make everything into a bash Washington, DC rally? Something is just wrong with all this bashing of the Washington rhetoric anyway and then standing back and calling themselves Americans.
LINDA, very well put.
Not to diminish the extent and seriousness of the flooding here, but we do have to remember that it was just last September when Atlanta had similar flooding and towns and cities along the Mississippi are frequently flooded (with lives lost and damages into the billions of dollars).
We are right to be proud of our response (it is truly incredible), but we shouldn’t get too cocky and fall into the belief that we along are capable of this sort of response. People across this country reliably come together when there is an emergency. It is part of what makes us Americans, part of what makes us human.
In the end, what do we want the national media to report? It was a lot of rain and there was flooding. There isn’t a whole lot more than can be said. What can they really do. As noted, we are doing pretty good job taking care of ourselves at the moment. Our local and state agencies have the resources to manage the current situation.
To David: What they can do is to help financially. TN has always had one of the highest per capita donation rates in terms of both money and time. The Nation needs to understand just how bad this is. Why does that seem to bother you? I agree with much of what you said, but belittling what Middle TN is going through is over the top. We have NEVER been through anything like this. Wake up! We need financial help and the Federal gov’t to send our tax dollars back and stay the heck outa the way. We will take care of the rest. They would only screw it up as they have everything else.
Don’t worry, Nashville. You’ll pull yourselves up by your bootstraps just fine without the CNN/FNC/MSNBC cameras pestering you every other hour.
—Houston, Texas. Mid-September 2008.
Thank you! As someone who lived through those September floods, I am somewhat surprised at the somewhat high-handed, superior attitude that seems to be coming from Nashvillians posting on the web. I saw this post in a comment thread to an article on CNN.com and was somewhat surprised at the tone.
I think it’s GREAT that the people of Nashville are helping each other out and I think it’s AWESOME that they are managing in spite of the surprising nature of the rain and flooding, but it is far from the only place where that kind of thing has happened. The floods here in this area in 2009 created millions of dollars of damage and there are places that are still being cleaned up. If you wanted to go anywhere, you had to first check to make certain the routes that you normally took were actually open. There were people who were driving on roads that looked safe…right up until the roadway washed away with them on it. It was a disaster. What is going on in Nashville right now is a disaster. It is going to take a lot of time and money to recover from.
I have a lot of sympathy and empathy for the people suffering through this; however, I also am finding a bit of a bad taste in my mouth the more I come across the “we are Nashvillians; we don’t need anyone’s help” kind of attitudes. Remember that not everyone is oblivious to what is going on. Some of us have family in Tennessee. Some of us have seen the story on the news sites. Be proud of yourselves, but try not to make it sound like no one else can do what you’re doing because other people have done and will do in the future.
Sorry Brekke, but in my opinion if you look in the mirror you’ll likely see that arrogance about which you write. There’s no high-handed, superior attitude on display here; just a tribute to great people with self-reliant values rolling up their sleeves to solve the problem of the moment.
Great post! So true in so many ways. It’s been great to see how eager everyone in the area has been to help their neighbors and those around them.
Man, the Media sucks. I hope it gets better soon for you folks in TN.
If the national media gave us attention then we would get national attention, then there would be a bigger push for a federal disaster to be declared…hence opening federal funds… think they are thinking we dont need it or deserve it (tn is primarily republican). PLEASE CONTACT YOU FEDERAL AND STATE REPS!!! I think we deserve some help for a change, as we are the volunteer state and have helped everyone else. Regardless of afflitation. Just my thought on subject!!!
The process for getting Federal aid begins with the local and state officials making assessments and making requests for the aid. This process has started, but it takes time for it to happen. The President has already talked with the Governor, so there is know lack of attention from that quarter.
As for political affiliations, Tennessee has a Democratic governor and Nashville is heavily Democratic. If party affiliation is being taken into account it can only help us.
The Governor has completed that request – at 7:35PM, the request was for 52 counties to be declared disaster areas. Obama has signed off on four of them and has yet to even release a single sentence boilerplate response.
As much as it has scared me that my Becca lives on BELL RD (Where that building ventured by). It scared me more that she ignored the warnings to stay off the roads for rescures and it irritated me more that the only reason she left was to keep her job at BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO.
She had to pass the Opray and flooded roads. I do wonder while passing everything what she was thinking about the who, what, when, and where of it all as she saw the devestation.
She is but 18 years old and 20 day’s away from 19. One day I hope she realizes what she has survived and that is makes a vast difference in her life. Mean while I will continue to use my facebook to vent through her teenage life lessons to keep my sanity or what is left of it after this weekend!!! It wasn’t until I found your news on Monday morning just how bad it was on the other side of her Apt parking lot. As I thank God she is OK!! None of the family could have gotten to her; we are all two or more hours away. And, I her mother is the closest in Knoxville, TN and can only sit and watch the weather channel in her are and they covered more in Memphis, TN due to the levee scare they had(I never want to be in the dark til Monday again).
In the past two days, I haven’t come across a single person who didn’t mention the flooding in Nashville; before the May Day bomb attempt and the oil. And living in South FL, the spill is a topic which looms more in our future than not. I find it rather cheeky you think you are being ignored.
To repeat David S above, “….right to be proud of our response (it is truly incredible), but we shouldn’t get too cocky and fall into the belief that we alone are capable of this sort of response. People across this country reliably come together when there is an emergency…”
At this moment, proof of that reliability is seen not only in Nashville, but also in the overarching response of volunteers stepping up along the gulf coast to help save yet another community.
Being from the middle TN area since 1988, it hurts to see areas i know so well hit in such ways. I recall young days goofing off along the Harpeth, wondering about its reserved nature.
And you all did damn well here in the first few days. Remain focused, and rest assured you are not being ignored nor renounced.
From a fitting Rodney Crowell song,
“California earthquake you just don’t know what you’ve done.
We may fall off in the ocean, but you’ll never make us run.
You’re a partner to the devil, but we ain’t afraid of him.
We’ll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again”
My sentiments exactly! You could not have said it any better! I have spoken with friends and family in different states and they have no idea what is going on in Nashville. This tragedy has touched all parts of Middle Tennessee. I have seen nothing but compassion and the willingness to help out anyone in need. Truly amazing.
That’s right WE ARE NASHVILLE we are the volunteer state we help each other!!!! I love my state!!! Great job on the article.
Well put indeed! I’ve been amazed at how uncaring many are about this situation. It has really shaken my faith in people.
I’m so sorry people have been uncaring to you. I live in Manhattan but my friends know I’m from Nashville and have been very sympathetic to my worries. Based on Reuters video, I actually thought the situation was worse than it is, and my friends (who have never been to Nashville) were very concerned.
I do wish you well and hope you can find some more sympathetic friends.
Marvelous! Thanks for explaining why we’ve been ignored. It makes “sense” now.
Your words are so true. This is why I choose to live here.
this is what i wanted to see this is so sad that no on cares all the marines are working on the oil spill and the prez is all wraped up in the attack on nyc but this is as importint as well thinks for bringing this to manys attintion
I too agree, very well written. Proud to have lived in Nashville my whole life and still here. Sorry to see this has happened to our city but we’ll come out victorious. Not sure if I want anyone in the media other than FOX to report more than they have. Can’t trust too many other sources. As most know, if you can give your time or any amount of money, lets help get Nashville back on its feet!
Patten –
Thanks for your brevity and great thoughts about the situation and the town that we live in. Great insight!
Extremely well written. I pray that the nation will take notice. You’ve got my support in Western KY!
The flooding in Nashville and surrounding counties did not happen in a blink of an eye but nonetheless it was and is just as devastating as a hurricane and even an oil spill if you think about it. Our rivers, lakes, creeks and even ponds where our livestock get their drinking water are being polluted with oil, gas, pesticides, paints, sewage and many other unknown and harmful substances. It’s just not located in one specific area. The water being polluted is state wide and is at this very moment traveling to other states to pollute their water supply. The pollutants have came from factories, industries, homes, offices, gas stations, stranded cars and God only knows what else.
As far as lives being lost…The last I heard 11 lives were lost in this tragedy but even 1 lost life is 1 too many, just ask those that lost their loved one this past weekend. Those lives lost weren’t lives that “could have been lost” as with the bomb in NY that never exploded. Those lives WERE lost. We are blessed in a sense that it could have been a much higher count but again 1 life lost is 1 too many. My heart and prayers goes out to those loved ones.
As far as “terror-sexy” or “eco-sexy” I believe some of you have taken those statements completely out of context. The media wants to sell papers, they want people to watch their news broadcasts and lets face it flooding without looting, killings and whining just isn’t big news regardless of the devastation taking place.
Patten, I commend you for this article. It is very well thought out article and the tone is exactly what I’m hearing in Coffee county. Of course it’s going to upset people that just don’t get what Nashville and middle TN is about because just as it is hard for us to comprehend the total devastation of our home it is hard for them to comprehend our Tennessee Volunteerism and love of our family and friends here.
We are not every man for themselves here in the Volunteer State we ARE Nashville…WE ARE TENNESSEE!
I agree with everything you (and the author) said. Great points!
Great blog!!! Me, my wife and 2 boys are new to Nashville and totally love this town and have no plan on leaving. We happened to b out of town since last week, it was a great shock to hear of the floods. Looking forward to heading back and help where and if we can.
Well said. I am from West Tennessee and our small town sustained flood damage and my husband almost drown. I include Nashville as part of my “home turf” and it is horrid that our flooding is not getting enough news coverage. Wonder what would of happened if a car bomb was found here and the flooding was in New York? (I bet that would of gotten a lot of air time)!
Well said, sir! It’s what makes Nashville a true Southern city. It’s what makes Tennesseans, Tennesseans. We are the Volunteer State after all. Grace, hospitality, resilience, generosity, and responsibility are all defining characteristics of this great state. Even 2 hours down the road in Chattanooga, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to our neighbors in Nashville. Don’t fret about the tangible history and landmarks damaged or destroyed. Nashville’s true history and landmarks are in its people and its culture.
On a couple of sidenotes, and to loop in hockey, the adjectives used above are a little familiar. The Predators seem to personify Nashville on the ice as Nashville is off the ice. The city defines the team! Oh, and where’s Sonny Perdue? Is he going to return the favor that Tennessee did for Georgia back in the Atlanta flood a few years back?
You’ve been getting a lot of mentions here in Oklahoma, but maybe oklahomans just have a greater appreciation for natural disasters. In either case, seeing Nashville on the local news has made me miss Nashville. Overall a great town in a great state filled with great people. Wishing you guys the best as you get back on your land legs
Amen, and well said. We are Nashville.
Great blog post from a great Predators fan – no the blog is about Nashville, not hockey. I recently moved from Nashville after almost 15 years in the city. I was employee #6 of the Predators, when the team was still called Nashville Hockey Club! I consider Nashville to be home. It is a beautiful city filled with incredible people.
I grew up in Nashville but now live in NYC. Our news has been Times Square 24/7 with nary a peep about the horrible flooding in Nashville. Thank you for posting this.
I too grew up in Nasville and live in PA. The Weather Channel” and my favorite, FNC (Fox News Channel) covered it very well.
Flooding in Tennessee was on the front page of the New York Times.
Very well said.
Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.
This is Our Town for sure…
“Those in middle TN need some real perspective if you think the reason you didn’t have looting and crime was because you’re just a grand group of people. The Superdome took 6 days to be evacuated. You guys deal with the same conditions those in New Orleans did for 6 days and come tell us how awesome Nashville is.”
1. People in New Orleans were looting from day 1. If you’re going to be “rational” don’t distort the facts.
2. Been in a shelter for 3 days now and not one sign of looting. I’m not going anywhere so I’ll come back on day 6 and see if your theory holds water.
——————-
“In the end, what do we want the national media to report? It was a lot of rain and there was flooding. There isn’t a whole lot more than can be said. What can they really do”
Nothing to report besides “a lot of rain”? Wow, you must not be from Nashville. You surely don’t realize that thousands of citizens around Middle Tennessee have lost EVERYTHING. You must not realize that thousands more jobs have been lost. How many jobs were lost at Opryland Hotel and Opry Mills alone? Surely you are completely ignorant to the fact that many people have lost there lives, and billions of dollars in damage has been done.
So to answer your question, there sure as hell is A LOT MORE to report than “a lot of rain”
Thanks for your concern though.
AMEN!
I am a born and raised Nashvillian for your information. I was out for the last three days helping clean up various locations. I know what the situation is. I also however have been in other disasters. I was living in Lower Manhattan during 9/11. I watched the towers fall in person and the 2,500 deaths that occurred during the event. I was also in Nashville for the ice storm of 1994 and tornados of 1998. So I have some perspective.
My point is that unlike 9/11 or the Gulf oil spill there is really no human cause to question or examine and unlike the Haiti earthquake or Katrina we are not a devastated city. Lots of people are devastated, but the city as a whole is strong and many are already back to work and returning to their normal. routines. So, there isn’t a political concern to report on or a city on the brink, so while it is of immense concern to us here, there is little to justify major coverage nationwide.
Tennessee has watched its farming and industry leave at an unreal rate over the past years. The things that sustained our tourism and entertainment business are under water with billions in damage and revenue losses for the months it will take to rebuild and restore. It’s not just Nashville… two-thirds of the state (if not more) had sustained flooding damage. Roads all over the state are washed out and damaged, so much so that most counties in middle TN have been closed… my guess is that West TN is experiencing the same There were 56 schools along in metro that were damaged… that is one school system. And I haven’t even started on the number of homes, cars, and entire farms that have been destroyed. There are still many missing people and we will probably learn of even more deaths over the next few days as the water recedes. The entire state is on water restriction, and the flood water can be dangerous for numerous reasons, especially in the stagnant heat and humidity expected this week. This is a huge and costly disaster… it may not be an oil spill or an unsuccessful bombing attempt, but we in TN are hardly being selfish by wanting a little more acknowledgement from the media and the president!
Did you ever think that maybe this is karma for your moral crimes against your fellow humans? Fighting for the right to keep slavery in the Civil War? For a city and state that is “grand” to not loot and help each other, what about equality for all men? Every crime must have a punishment.
Honestly, bringing up slavery literally hundreds of years later is silly. The people that live in Nashville today, don’t own slaves, and neither did their parents. The reason that things like this continue on is because people refuse to forgive PAST issues/sins against mankind.
It’s terrible what is happening in Nashville, and thank goodness the rain finally stopped. I don’t think the author intended for anyone else problems or disasters to be belittled, but it is nice to celebrate a city/ community that is pulling together to help each other out in a time of need.
This is a time to build each other up, not talk about who’s problem is bigger.
Perhaps… you’re an idiot for suggesting that the flood is karma or punishment for slavery that happened LONG before the affected citizens were born! Seriously???
Hmm, you do know there were slaves in all states at the time of the Civil War, not just in the South. Not to mention that only about 1% of the Southern population even had enough money to afford slaves. Or the fact that after the Emancipation Proclamation, the slaves in the south were free but those in the north were still in bondage. Learn some facts before you spew garbage about a city in which most of the residents’ ancestors did not even own slaves, and none do now. Next time you experience personal tragedy, maybe you should examine your own life to see if its “karma” for some atrocity you surely committed.
As for those ignorant fools who seem to think we don’t understand that this is not as big in magnitude as Katrina, 9/11, or Haiti, think again: we freaking know. The fact that they were worse does not in any way, and should not in any way, detract from the fact that lives have been lost, homes destroyed, billions of dollars in damage, cultural icons ruined, tourism industry hugely affected- how is it that just because it may not have been as big of a disaster that means we can ignore the immense suffering of fellow Americans?? Especially when this was not seen coming. Nashville is not in a flood plain, you know… it would have been nice to have the kind of warning NOLA had for Katrina. And the oil spill, as horrible as that is, has not ruined as many lives or crippled entire cities. The bombing attempt? Important, but the fact remains that thousand and thousand have lost everything.
I think the state is just wanting others to recognize our suffering the same that it has recognized the suffering of others, and understand how dire the situation is.
Had the flood occurred in 1860 or even 1960 one might be inclined to say so, but 2010? You’re barking up the wrong tree, troll. Besides Tennessee did not fully vote for secession and the first time voted against it. It was only after Ft. Sumter and Lincoln’s call for troops from TN that they voted for secession, the last state to do so, and not so they could keep slavery. The first anti-slavery periodicals anywhere in the States were published in East Tennessee.
I would just like to mention that Tennessee was the LAST state to secede from the Union and the FIRST state to rejoin the Union after the Civil War. I find it interesting that Karma decided to punish the “most liberal” Southern state of the 1860s before demolishing Mississippi, Alabama, or any other state that currently allows African-Americans to dwell within their borders only so they can play football.
Who is this, Pat Robertson? Let’s use common sense now, please.
Look at the whole picture. The disaster hit all race. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. Looks as though you need to take a look at your own life. These people in anyway should not have gone through this. This was done by the Lord not Karma!!
Sounds to me like Perhaps was trying stir up some controversy. Because that does not make any sense to bring up at this time.
However, to contradict others opinions, CNN.com has had this story within its top three headlines since the rains stopped. Just wanted to point that out.
It is also the only natural disaster that had no human error. If a dam had broken, there would have been more coverage. But unlike the oil spill and the attempted car bombing, there was someone to stick it to as someone earlier mentioned. When its completely mother nature’s fault, it seems that its less newsworthy.
PERHAPS.. YOU NEED TO JUST STOP POSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear “Perhaps”,
You reference this being “karma” for slavery that occured 150 years ago (which by the way occured throughout the entire nation). What would you call the Katrina disaster which effected mainly minorities? Your entire point is something called the foot-in-mouth effect. In fact, I would garner from your comments that you are a slave your self – not a slave as you would think of one, but a slave to an egregiously inapt view point, and incompetent brain. Almost every single race has at some point in time been subjuct to what we would deem as slavery and for you to even bring that up on a post of this nature shows everyone what an utter buffoon you are. If you want to cry or scream about anything, why don’t you just go cry to your mom and ask her why she dropped you on your head as a child. Then go ahead and ask her to cash your government check so you can suck your thumb and reflect on your pathetic existence.
Prayer and best wishes for all those effected by this tragedy.
Are you kidding me? Obviously you like to cause drama, or are just a hateful little person who needs to cause hurt because you can. Either way we may have to be invaded by your ugliness for a few minutes of podering what you just wrote, but you have to live with yourself your entire life. Do you really want to live your life being ugly. Were you a slave during the flood and are now mentioning it? No? Then why bring it up now?
Wow, you are a total racist.
Well said David!
PERHAPS–YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT JUST AN IDIOT–BUT AN UNEDUCATED IDIOT!!!!! NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR YOUR TRASH TALK AT A TIME LIKE THIS OR—-EVER!!!!
Perhaps, these people don’t believe in freedom of speech or freedom of opinion. I’m glad I live in a country where you can have whatever opinions you want and be able to write/speak them. Well except this forum as some would like it to be. It seems like on here it’s comment whatever you want, unless you disagree. Get a life all of you who try to stop the posts you disagree with. This is not China.
Jeff, I believe in freedom of speec. But even moredo I believe in tact and diplomacy. Posting things that are so offensive to so many people is is just not necessay. I think Patten’s purpose of his article is to express his love for his city. As our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Nashville, I don’t think the author’s intentions was to stir up hate. Making this about politics, slavery, Katrina does nothing but taint the beautiful, eloquent letter by Patten. YOU SEE HOW THIS WORKS? I AM EXERCISING MY FREEDOM OF SPEECH. It sounds like you need to get a life!!!!
Right on David! Finally someone making some sense.
This is awesome and I will forward on! However, unfortunately, the looting has begun per several friends in law enforcement. I’m hoping this will not get out of control– there’s enough going on as is.
Especially when this was not seen coming. Nashville is not in a flood plain, you know…
Nashville is most certainly in a flood plain. It was built in a valley created by the Cumberland River. We have several flood control dams built buy the Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Authority. One of the reasons that downtown Nashville was built on a hill was to be close to the river yet avoid flooding.
You do realize you make no sense by saying nashville is not a flood plain, and in the same breath say you have several flood control damns …
Any land near a water source is technically a flood zone, otherwise you would not need damns and levee’s. Yes it lowers the risk, but when mother natures decides to reclaim, nothing will stop her. If you want to live near water there will always be a risk .. always.
flood control dams also double as hydroelectric dams for TVA… you know… we need power
Well said, ‘Get Real.’
Thanks, I’m proud of Nashville!
We’ve only lived in Nashville for a little over a year and are definitely proud to call it home. Thanks for the reminder why that is so.
I view the lack of national attention as a compliment to Nashville. Adapting a positive spin on it – I read into it this following kind of thinking by the media – “the people in Nashville have this covered – WOW what a city and they aren’t attention seeking, they put their heads down and take care of their own”. I hope others take this “positive” approach to the lack of coverage. I am sure that our great leader, Governor Bredesen will make sure those in need are taken care of and we have local celebrities to help out – have a little faith folks. I see our glass as half full not half-empty. Tennesseans are not “whiners”.
I live in Canada and I don’t really have much knowledge of disasters that paralyze cities not to mention states but I do know that everything that is a loss of life is a horrible disaster…I went through the Ice Sotrm of ’98 and never want to do anything that bad again…we only lost power for 4 days compared to people who went for 4 WEEKS without ; ate at a shelter one night but wanted to let others have hot food when we in fact had other options; had no running water or heat ( and in Canada in January that is quite a problem) and slept in several layers of clothes with candles for light and minimal heat …but we stayed in our home so we could let others worse off have beds at the shelter and so we could protect our home and pets. A former co-worker of mine lost her 14 year old son when their house burned down…many, many others were killed in other tragic ways …elderly people froze to death, people were killed by fires that they were using to stay warm..many tragedies..
I feel SO bad for anyone who has to experience the wrath that Mother Nature can unleash …but to belittle people and slander them when they are trying to cope with disaster is just so inhuman…you people who have had such negative things to comment should be ashamed …and pray that you never have to live through this kind of horrible disaster…
People are overreacting here in Middle Tennessee, that’s for certain. Wanting to be a part of something bigger, and daring to compare… even BEGIN comparing this flood to the monster that was Katrina?? You people are out of your self-pity wanting minds.
There were no looters? Because this disaster doesn’t COMPARE. We’re talking a hurricane vs a heavy rain. Are you people serious? People stranded with no electricity, no way out, etc…
I live 30 mins from Nashville and wouldn’t have even thought it was that big of a deal without the news and overreacting Tennesseans on the internet. It’s not THAT bad.
The news has bigger stories to cover. Do any of you even remember any floods nationally aside from Katrina?… Do you? Probably not. Get over yourselves.
We lost 20 something people and you dare mention Katrina? Really?? You act like we were such great citizens compared to people in a complete panic state? People were walking around hanging out in nashville wading in the water when it occurred.
Do me a favor. Go back. Look at Hurricane Katrina footage. Then understand that ever mentioning this city’s disaster vs New Orleans is about the dumbest thing you could possibly do.