RESIDENTS URGED TO EVACUATE PENNINGTON BEND AREA
NEAR OPRYLAND HOTEL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2010
EOC Media Desk
(615) 862-8540
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –The National Weather Service advises major flooding is expected to continue along the Cumberland River on Monday, followed by a gradual decrease in water levels with the river falling below flood stage late Tuesday night.
Opryland Area, Riverfront, and MetroCenter in North Nashville Evacuated
Emergency personnel are urging Pennington Bend residents to evacuate. The Riverfront and First Avenue, Metro Center in North Nashville, and Opryland areas have been evacuated. First Avenue and Metro Center will remain closed until Cumberland River levels stabilize and begin to recede.
Metro Schools closed tomorrow
Metro Nashville Public Schools has announced that schools will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, May 4. When schools re-open, students and staff at The Academy at Opry Mills will have temporary operations at the Media Center at McGavock High School.
High school athletic practices are allowed when school is closed; competitions will be held at the discretion of the principal. When school resumes, middle school athletic practices and competitions will also resume.
Metro Public Health Department Clinics, Court Offices plan to reopen Tuesday
The Metro Public Health Department's Lentz Health Center, Woodbine Health Center, and East Health Center are closed today due to flooding issues. The Health Department expects to reopen clinics on Tuesday.
Trial Courts and General Sessions Courts of Davidson County are closed for court today, as well as all Court Clerk Offices. Juvenile Court will be open for preliminary hearings and detention docket only. All General Sessions Court and State Trial Court dockets will be open Tuesday. All General Sessions Court cases scheduled for today have been rescheduled to tomorrow.
Public Works Announces guidelines for debris collection
As thousands of Davidson County residents and businesses begin cleaning up from the weekend’s historic flooding, Metro Public Works has issued the following preliminary guidelines for placing debris curbside for collection:
- All items and materials MUST be separated into three different piles, and placed at the curb or streetside for collection. If the debris is not separated, it will not be collected.
- White goods and metals (appliances, etc.)
- Construction and demolition debris (carpet, lumber, windows, etc.)
- Vegetation (brush, limbs and all other yard waste)
- Items should NOT be placed in public alleys. Alleys need to remain clear for emergency crews and trash collection services.
While Public Works is still finalizing a comprehensive plan and schedule for debris collection, residents and businesses should go ahead and place items out for collection.
Water Conservation
The public water supply provided by Metro Water Services continues to be safe, but there is some concern that Nashville could experience a water shortage if conservation measures are not taken. Customers are directed to use water for drinking and food preparation only. Customers in higher elevations may experience reduced water pressure. If a customer loses pressure completely or has discolored water, they should contact Metro Water Services at (615) 862-4600. Harpeth Valley Utilities District treatment plant has also been affected by the flood and their customers are asked to conserve water for essential uses as well.
Road Closure Update
Flooding continues on numerous local streets and roadways, and officials advise residents to stay home and off the roads. If travel is necessary, drivers should avoid roads covered in water and respect all barricades and road closures. A full list and map of road closures in Davidson County are available at www.nashville.gov.
Emergency Information for Piedmont Gas Customers
The safety of our customers is our top priority. If your home or business has been flooded and you have concerns about your natural gas service or natural gas appliances in use:
- Contact us at 1-800-752-7504.
- Piedmont Natural Gas will log your call and, as floodwaters recede and we are able to safely enter your home or business, we will do so and assess the situation.
- It may be necessary to shut off natural gas service to your home or business initially in order to assess any damage to your appliances or natural gas service.
- Do not try to turn your natural gas service off on your own.
- As a reminder to our customers, if you smell the odor of natural gas (similar to rotten eggs) do not turn on or off appliances or lights, do not use your home phone. Leave the premises immediately and call Piedmont Natural Gas at 1-800-752-7504 from a neighbor’s home or your cell phone.
- We appreciate the patience of our customers during this unprecedented event and we will continue to provide updated information as necessary.
- For the latest information about Piedmont Natural Gas’ efforts in response to this event, customers may go to Piedmont’s website at www.piedmontng.com and click on the Tennessee Customer Update icon on the homepage.
MTA Service Suspended Indefinitely
The Metropolitan Transit Authority has suspended all bus service indefinitely due to flooding at its headquarters facility on Nestor Street.
Statement from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau is currently in the process of assessing the overall impact of the flooding on the city’s hospitality industry. We know that the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center and the surrounding Music Valley area has sustained flooding damage and those hotels will be closed from several weeks to several months. However, the majority of the city’s hospitality industry is intact and will be operating as usual in a few days.
We have posted up-to-date hotel availability and attraction information on our website at www.visitmusiccity.com/visitors or you may contact our Visitor Information Centers at 1-800-657-6910 or (615)259-4747 with questions. We are also updating our Facebook www.facebook.com/nashvillemusiccity and Twitter www.twitter.com/visitmusiccity accounts frequently.