METRO CENTER TO REOPEN AT NOON; SOME STREETS REMAIN FLOODED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2010
11 a.m.
EOC Media Desk
(615) 862-8540
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Metro Center will reopen to business owners, their employees and deliveries at noon, although some streets remain blocked due to flooding. The general public, however, will not be permitted in the area today. The County Clerk's Metro Center office remains closed; satellite offices are open. Metro Water Services is continuing to monitor the integrity of the levee separating Metro Center from the Cumberland River. The levee is continuing to function as expected. Entry to Metro Center should occur at the following intersections: 1) Rosa L. Parks Boulevard at Athens Way; 2) Freeland Station Road at Mainstream Drive; and 3) Rosa L. Parks Boulevard at Vantage Way. Persons entering Metro Center should be mindful that displaced wildlife have been seen in the area.
Downtown Access
Pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Broadway from 3rd Avenue to the Cumberland River remains restricted due to the absence of electricity and the pumping of water. Access is being granted to business owners and residents. First Avenue one block north and south of Broadway, Second Avenue from Broadway to Demonbreun, and Rosa Parks from James Robertson Parkway to Jefferson Street remain closed due to flooding issues.
Metro Water
The public water supply provided by Metro Water Services continues to be safe, but is at risk if conservation measures are not continued. While capacity in the reservoirs seems to be improving, our water reserves are still only at 52%.
It is still imperative that citizens conserve water. Some simple ways to conserve water are to:
- put off washing clothes and dishes,
- turn off the tap while brushing teeth and washing hands,
- put off watering plants,
- turn off automatic sprinklers and water that leads to dripping faucets and limit toilet flushing,
- suspend car washing and lawn watering/irrigation,
- use paper plates and plastic utensils,
- do not waste water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses or heat it on the stove.
Metro Water Services has locked off 400 irrigation meters in our service area. These are meters that ONLY serve irrigation systems. Meters that are sources for domestic uses - drinking, food preparation, etc. are not being locked off.
Metro Water Services is also contacting other non-essential water users such as car washes, laundry mats and garden centers personally with the hope that they will electively curtail their use. If citizens see water misuse such as irrigation, car washing, pressure washing, etc, they are asked to approach the user and request that they cease. Reports of water misuse should be sent to Kim.Minton@nashville.gov. Please include date and time, location name and address and type of misuse in the report.
If a customer loses pressure completely or has discolored water, they should contact Metro Water Services at (615) 862-4600. MWS is continuing to survey the distribution system 24 hours a day for potential leaks or breaks. We ask residents to report suspected main breaks to (615) 862-4600.
While our customers are recovering from the recent flooding, Metro Water Services will waive late fees for bills that have due dates beginning Monday, May 3, and all bills with due dates throughout the month of May.
Water Treatment Plant Repairs
Repairs are proceeding well at the K.R. Harrington Water Treatment Plant. There is still a significant amount of inspection, repair, and testing to accomplish before the plant can be placed back in service and operations evaluated. Metro Water Services is coordinating closely with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) during this process.
Cumberland River Water Level Slowly Dropping
As of 9 a.m. today, the Cumberland River was at 42.24 feet. Flows will remain high as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to release water from Old Hickory and Percy Priest Dam to protect the integrity of the dams. However, these releases are not expected to lead to additional rises on the river. The goal is to get the river below flood stage of 40 feet (or 100,000 cubic feet per second) over the next couple of days.
Nashville Electric Service
Approximately 3,000 customers are still without power. All buildings along James Robertson Parkway (except the 710 Bldg.) will have power today. Crews are working on the East Side network of the Demonbreun subtesting circuits in order to begin bringing the spot network back later today.
NES employees will begin going door-to-door today contacting commercial customers served by Demonbreun to tell them to begin making preparation to receive power on Friday.
If water got into the outlets, plugs, switches, panel box or meter base of any home or business, the owner MUST hire a licensed electrician to make the repairs, and have Codes inspect and issue a release before NES can restore power.
NES will be waiving the following fees to FLOOD VICTIMS as follows:
- $45 turn-on fee, same day service
- $30 turn on fee for future day service
- $225 temporary service fee
- $15 transfer fee (for customers who have to move to a new residence due flooding)
NES may expand its relief efforts for FLOOD VICTIMS ONLY and will have more information later.
Urban Search & Rescue Teams Continue to Visit Homes in Devastated Neighborhoods
Metro firefighters, police officers and police officer trainees continue to go door to door checking on homeowners and offering them guidance on how to seek assistance. The effort was coordinated by the city's Urban Search & Rescue team and covered neighborhoods in Bordeaux, Antioch, Pennington Bend and Bellevue yesterday.
Police Officers Remaining Vigilant in Flood Impacted Neighborhoods
Metro police officers continue to provide enhanced security to flood damaged neighborhoods. Persons observed removing belongings may be approached by officers to ensure that the property being removed belongs to them. Residents who see an influx of strangers in their neighborhoods or who have safety/security concerns are urged to contact police at 862-8600.
Flood-Related Death Toll Remains at Nine; Two Persons Still Missing
The flood-related death toll remains at nine. Two persons are still missing.
Metro Schools
Metro Nashville Public Schools students will NOT report to school Friday, May 7.
School district administrators have polled principals, consulted with the Mayor’s office and the police department, and taken into account conditions across the county. While the loss of instructional time is a concern, the consensus is that it will be the best for our community if school is not in session on Friday. Metro Schools staff will take weekend to assess the possibility of resuming school on Monday.
ALL school district employees should report to work on Friday. Today, all bus drivers should call their driver supervisors with an update on the condition of their buses and their ability to report to work, if they have not already called in. Bus drivers and bus monitors will run their regular scheduled routes beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday and should report any hazards or obstacles to the transportation department’s dispatch office.
Metro Government Offices and Courts
Metro Government Offices and Courts opened for business today with a few exceptions. The Juvenile Court and Juvenile Court Clerk offices experienced extensive water damage and flooding. These services will relocate and the relocation plan will be released to the public when available. The County Clerk’s and Metro Social Services’ offices located in Metro Center are closed until the access restriction is lifted. All other County Clerk’s Offices are open for business. Farmer’s Market continues to be closed due to flooding. Municipal Auditorium will not be opened until next week.
Mayor Proposes Metro Codes Fee Waiver
The Mayor’s Office is working with the Metro Codes Department to relieve home owners and small business owners from the costs of construction related to damage to homes and businesses caused by the flood. We will ask the Council to pass an ordinance waiving the fees associated with building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits.
FEMA
On May 4, President Obama announced that four counties in Tennessee, including Davidson County, will be receiving federal disaster relief funds to aid in rebuilding efforts from the area’s worst-ever flood. Two more counties were added Wednesday. Cheatham, Davidson, Hickman, Williamson, Dyer and Montgomery Counties have been named to receive assistance.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties are urged to begin immediately applying for assistance by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585.
Bottled Water Distribution Centers
Bottled water distribution will continue today at the following locations from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
Nashville Fairgrounds at 500 Wedgewood Avenue
Antioch Middle School at 5050 Blue Hole Road
Bellevue Middle School at 655 Colice Jeanne Road
Pearl Cohn High School at 904 26th Avenue North
Bailey Middle School 2000 Greenwood Avenue
*THERE WILL BE A LIMIT OF 1 CASE PER VEHICLE
Limited Bus Service Resumed Today with Free Fares on Most Routes
Metropolitan Transit Authority and Regional Transportation Authority resumed bus services today with a Sunday/Holiday schedule. Questions should be directed to the Customer Care Call Center at 862-5950. Information on the Sunday/Holiday schedule that is running today is available at nashvillemta.org.
Health Department
The Health Department's supply of Tetanus vaccines was getting low yesterday at clinics and the five Community Center locations. More doses are being obtained. Woodbine and Lentz are open from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. today or until doses are gone. An additional 2,000 doses are anticipated on Friday.
Health information including re-entering flooded homes safely, addressing mold, food safety, and animal care guidance can be found at www.health.nashville.gov .
Disaster Information Centers
Community-based response for social and human services has begun in coordination with the Metro EOC and Nashville Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). The Centers will provide general information on utilities, social service assistance, and legal and insurance information. Centers will be staffed by volunteers, Parks Department and other Metro employees. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bellevue Community Center
656 Colice Jeanne Rd. 37221
East Community Center
700 Woodland Street, 37206
Hermitage Community Center
3720 James Kay Lane, 37076
Hadley Community Center
1037 28th Avenue North, 37208
Coleman Community Center
384 Thompson Lane 37211
Salvation Army mobile feeding stations are available nearby at St. Edwards Church and Bellevue Baptist Church to provide lunch and dinner for individuals and families who need information support. These centers will not be equipped for medical assistance. Citizens who need emergency assistance are urged to call 911.
Volunteer Opportunities
Hands On Nashville is coordinating volunteer efforts. Citizens can register to volunteer at www.HON.org. Once registered, volunteers will be contacted with information regarding which of the 6 reception centers they should report to.
Donations
Cash and monetary gifts are still preferred; however, specific item donation requests include large quantities of the following: diapers, formula, cleaning supplies and rubber gloves, wet vacs, brooms, mops, and generators. If citizens have large quantities, they should contact the Community Foundation by calling 1-888-540-5200, or via their www.cfmt.org. Citizens with small quantities or single items to donate should call 2-1-1.
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