Don't Miss

We Are Nashville

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.

1,065 Comments

  1. Pingback: Come Down to Nashville, Check Out My Fingers, You Tour the Museums… Um, Shoot, Not the Museums… La la la la something, something « Tiny Cat Pants

  2. Pingback: The People Speak: “We Are Nashville” [Flood 2010] | Nashvillest

  3. Pingback: We Are Nashville | discordianZen

  4. Pingback: Our collective reaction to the flood - Nashville - Tennessee (TN) - City-Data Forum

  5. Pingback: So Proud of My City « JayeWalking

  6. Pingback: Nashville | We Are Nashville | Section 303 « Roadtosuccess09's Blog

  7. Pingback: The Nashville Flood – in medias res

  8. Pingback: Nashville | We Are Nashville | Section 303 | Social Outlaws

  9. Pingback: Nashville | We Are Nashville | Section 303 – IM PRODUCTS AND REVIEWS

  10. Pingback: A little wet here in Nashville - Page 2 - Acura Forum - Acura World.com

  11. Pingback: Nashville Flood « bright line rules

  12. Pingback: Nashville Flood « Dog Ball Hysterics

  13. Pingback: My world is a flood…

  14. Pingback: Nashville Floods | Nothing to see here...

  15. Pingback: A Semester Wrap Up: Harding, Nashville Flood, etc. « A Thousand Miles

  16. Pingback: The Flood of 2010 (#NashvilleFlood #Flood2010) « KayeDacus.com

  17. Pingback: Too Much Action = Major Distraction « The Sage in Bloom

  18. Pingback: Nashville Could Use Some Help | Today In Hockey

  19. Pingback: We Are Nashville | Property Parlor Real Estate and Land

  20. Pingback: Rosshoss’s Weblog

  21. Pingback: Let’s get real, let’s get heavy. « for lack of a better word

  22. Pingback: THE WORLD IS GOING CRAZY « Rastas On A Journey

  23. Pingback: David Wild: They Are Nashville: Standing By Music City | Best Breaking News

  24. Pingback: David Wild: They Are Nashville: Standing By Music City

  25. Pingback: Nashville Could Use Some Help | The Vancouver Canucks

  26. Pingback: We Are Nashville <

  27. Pingback: We Are Nashville! Very Well Said!!! « elevated southern

  28. Pingback: The Joys of Being a Recruiter (A Look in the Mirror for Job-Seekers) « A Recruiters Guide to the Universe

  29. Pingback: Twitter Archive 2010-05-04 | Gawain’s World

  30. Pingback: [inbetween] I’m home. «

  31. Pingback: “People drowned… « Our [little] Adventures

  32. Pingback: the 500 year flood « Plant Potatoes

  33. Pingback: Wild on Nashville : Post Politics: Political News and Views in Tennessee

  34. Pingback: Nashville | HandsOn Blog

  35. Pingback: I don’t know if you heard, but Nashville is underwater « O God, come to my assistance

  36. Pingback: Nashville Flood « work / life

  37. Pingback: The heart of Nashville « A Girl Named Hercules' Blog

  38. Pingback: Nashville Flood Lite « Sallaboutme

  39. Pingback: Telling Nashville's Story | snippets :: by Leslie Ann Jones

  40. Pingback: World Vision blogging trip in the Dominican Repuplic « of bravery and brokenness

  41. Pingback: David Wild: They Are Nashville: Standing By Music City | Current Movie Reviews, Sports and Celebrity News

  42. Pingback: We Are Nashville | Section 303 « Kenneth Bargers: in the news…

  43. Pingback: Water Conservation, Fellowship and Rubber Snakes « Kate Schmate

  44. Pingback: Mayor Of The Bux » Blog Archive » We Are Nashville

  45. Pingback: Forgotten Nashville? « To Be A Pilgrim

  46. Pingback: Confessions Of a Binge Blogger « A Novel Attempt

  47. Pingback: nashville. « we are fambly.

  48. Pingback: Rescuers feared more victims in Tennessee as a flood | digguk

  49. Pingback: A Smaller Nashville | The Nashville Joggler | Running, juggling, joggling

  50. Pingback: Prayers for Nashville « Daria Anne DiGiovanni, Inc.

  51. Pingback: Tennessee « Melody's Musings…

  52. Pingback: Nashville » Alanna Scully Photography

  53. Pingback: Nashville is down, not out | Bryan Young

  54. Pingback: The good, the bad and the ugly « The Works and Musings of Sarah Jane Kyle

  55. Pingback: Nashville waters withdraw, crews searched for bodies | digguk

  56. Pingback: The clean-up begins

  57. Pingback: Southern Appeal » Our Thoughts and Prayers with Nashville

  58. Pingback: We are Nashville | yet to be blog

  59. Pingback: Cosmopolitan Conservative » Blog Archive » Proud of Nashville

  60. Pingback: Are We Birmingham? « A Day in The Life…

  61. Pingback: Reemmber Nashville, Even If The President Didn’t.

  62. Pingback: Nashville and Liberal MSM Bias

  63. Pingback: Nashville Flood Relief Efforts | The 9513

  64. Pingback: We Are Nashville | Section 303 - http

  65. Pingback: We are Nashville « In Session: Tennessee Politics

  66. Pingback: Bless your heart. « REDDALLOVER

  67. Pingback: 2010 Devastating Nashville Flood | The Next Generation

  68. Pingback: Video: The Nashville Flood You’ve Heard So Little About « Nice Deb

  69. Pingback: Sink-o de Mayo, Nashville Edition « Her Name Was Grace.

  70. Pingback: Mental Health Days Are AMAHZING!!! « all you really have to do is shine!

  71. Pingback: Sha + Falar! » Blog Archive » Our prayers are with Tennessee.

  72. Pingback: It’s not officially a disaster until there’s a T-shirt « In Session: Tennessee Politics

  73. Pingback: Waterline « Susan Walker Photography Journal

  74. Pingback: “Barack Obama Ignores Tennessee Flood Victims…” « Jacksonian Lawyer's Blog

  75. Pingback: April Wrap-Up – Bittersweet Victory – CodeyHolland.com

  76. Pingback: I Am Nashville. «

  77. Pingback: A Flood of Emotions « Anointed With Grace

  78. Pingback: 500 year flood hit Nashville, here is how you can help | The Grable Group

  79. Pingback: The Worst Disaster Since the Civil War But Not as News Worthy as an Oil Spill

  80. Pingback: The Nashville Flood, Self-Reliance and the Mainstream Media | Parcbench

  81. Pingback: An inspiring “pay it forward” story emerges from the Nashville flood aftermath. | Kevin Montgomery

  82. Pingback: Chilpotle cheese dip « One Particular Kitchen

  83. Pingback: » Just In Case You Missed It The Millennial Star

  84. Pingback: Friday Links Roundup: Conservation Edition : The Faughn Family of Four

  85. Pingback: Nashville – The 500 Year Deluge « L.A. Marzulli’s Blog

  86. Pingback: Hillbuzz, Ann Coulter and Neil’s Persistent Use of Their Site « Timothy Matters

  87. Pingback: the rains came down and the floods came up « Christ's Church for Brooklyn

  88. Pingback: As the Waters Recede

  89. Pingback: God Knows and Cares « A voice crying out in the blogosphere

  90. Pingback: My Pictures of the Nashville Flood #NashvilleFlood | Jeffrey Davis

  91. Pingback: Our collective reaction to the flood - Nashville - Tennessee (TN) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

  92. Pingback: Finally, someone’s paying attention to the flood… « Jennifer Larson, Writer at Large

  93. Pingback: The Friday Five–Flooding Edition…Five ways you can help Nashville recover « Andy in Progress

  94. Pingback: We Build « English Lessons

  95. Pingback: elainebarnett.com » Nashville Rallies And the News Finally Reports It

  96. Pingback: gleanings from the blog buffet May 8 « Cookinthebooks's Blog

  97. Pingback: The 303:30 – We Are Nashville author & News 2 anchors | Section 303

  98. Pingback: Email Marketing Software Gives You Vital Statistics To Boost Your Business – Effective - Affordable Software Solutions

  99. Pingback: Blue. Green. Brown. « Share Joy

  100. Pingback: Ke$ha Nashville Flood Benefit Concert Set For June 16, 2010 | Bitten and Bound

  101. Pingback: Scientology recruiting for Nashville flooding. - Page 3 - Why We Protest | Activism Forum

  102. Pingback: How High’s The Water, Mama? 50 Feet High and Rising. (Wait, is that a spacecraft or a jellyfish?) « Don't rock, wobble.

  103. Pingback: “Geeking Out For A Cause: Nashville Flood Response Takes To The Web”

  104. Pingback: Dave Reads: We Are Nashville «

  105. Pingback: Nashville in the Postseason: The Tiger Abides | The Hockey Writers

  106. Pingback: Nashville’s long road ahead | Rejuvenate Meetings

  107. Pingback: See You Along the Way! » We Are Nashville

  108. Pingback: Beer-pocalypse 2010 – Norm’s River Roadhouse » schatzkins-dot-com

  109. Pingback: They Aren’t Nashville « Kleinheider.

  110. Pingback: April Canipe » » We are nashville

  111. Pingback: Thought Blog » Blog Archive » One Person’s Take

  112. Pingback: How to help. « highly caffeinated

  113. Pingback: Nashville Rising (& Serving Together) « Live.Love.Serve.

  114. Pingback: The Song of Music City « being drizzled in chocolate

  115. Pingback: Bright & Early: Live Like We’re Drying Edition | Nashvillest

  116. Pingback: Memories of flood linger online at OnNashville | The Tennessee Blog Directory

  117. Pingback: The Lifeline Of Social Media Helped Nashville | Speak to Power

  118. Pingback: Bright & Early: Live Like We’re Drying Edition « NashvilleBlogs.org

  119. Pingback: “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” « Logic Of Liberty

  120. Pingback: “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” - Politics Elevated

  121. Pingback: Kirbys Gotta Travel » Blog Archive » The Flood and the Train

  122. Pingback: The Spot-On Quote Of The Day… « The Camp Of The Saints

  123. Pingback: Keith Urban – “I'm In” · Boom News

  124. Pingback: SharePoint MVP Blogs

  125. Pingback: KVBPR Blog » A moment in time

  126. Pingback: Nashville | Kennedy Occasions

  127. Pingback: Music Review – We Are Nashville, Moments and It’s HERE (www.rockontogether.com)!

  128. Pingback: The Nashville Flood…Why Have We Paid So Little Attention to It? « Sigmund, Carl and Alfred

  129. Pingback: Friday, May 14 | Middle Tennessee Flood 2010

  130. Pingback: Eight Things I Learned While Helping Tennessee Flood Victims « Blog « Digital Reasoning

  131. Pingback: Nashville – The Little City That Could « Tennessee Before Daylight

  132. Pingback: Brad Moist » Blog Archive » Friday Faves

  133. Pingback: Holy Crap I’m Bored… « Breaking Contain

  134. Pingback: ‘Cause I’ll Be Dancin’ « Ciao! Sheila

  135. Pingback: Another Take On Disaster – Nashville, TN « Pastor Earl's Blog

  136. Pingback: Tennessee Floods: Updating the Help Options « Nashville Pro Bono

  137. Pingback: The Flood – Oh Me of Little Faith – Faithful Friday, Edition Two « Reflections by Pj

  138. Pingback: Have Coffee Will Write » Blog Archive

  139. Pingback: Sweet Relief: Nashville Food Blogger Bake Sale « One Particular Kitchen

  140. Pingback: Tennessee Flood Relief & Volunteer Info

  141. Pingback: Obama to aides: ‘Plug the damn hole’ | Chicago Daily Observer

  142. Pingback: We are Nashville Poster for Sale for Nashville Flood Victims « JanLovesPix