CURRENT DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TOPS $1.5 BILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE
1,952 Residential Properties Affected
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2010
11:00 a.m.
EOC Media Desk
(615) 862-8540
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Metro has identified over $1.5 billion in property damage throughout Davidson County - and the assessments are still going on.
That $1.5 billion does NOT include public buildings, or any building contents.
We have identified damage on nearly 93-hundred (9,284) parcels - nearly two thousand of those (1,952) are residential properties.
An initial assessment has been made on 83% of the county. Some areas were not accessible earlier in the week, and we are going back to those now.
We need your help in finding all of the damage. A website where property owners can report damage will be available later today.
This site is NOT connected to relief efforts or emergency services – it will be for reporting property damage only. If you need disaster assistance, register with FEMA at www.disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-FEMA.
The bottom line - so far we have assessed over one and one-half billion dollars in property damage. The assessment is continuing, and we ask property owners to report their damage so we can get an accurate figure.
Weekend Operations for the Emergency Operations Center and Joint Information Center
The EOC Media Desk will be staffed throughout the weekend to answer calls from the media. In addition, media releases will be issued as needed.
There will be no media briefings at the JIC over the weekend. The next scheduled briefing is set for Monday at 11 a.m.
The Nashville.gov website has been updated to include comprehensive flood information including assistance needs, cleanup guidelines, contact numbers, and general updates.
Metro Center
Metro Center is now open to the public. The public is asked to not drive through the area to sight see. As of 8 a.m. this morning, traffic was consistent with what is normal on a regular business day.
Mayor Proposes Metro Codes Fee Waiver
Legislation will be filed today with Metro Council which will allow the Metro Codes Department to relieve home owners and small business owners from the costs associated with obtaining permits for construction related to damage to homes and businesses. Construction costs of up to $100,000 will be eligible for fee waivers for permits to repair flood damage only. The legislation would provide credits for the rehabilitation and repair of buildings damaged by the flood. A maximum credit of $1,300 is available including:
$150 Plumbing Permit
$200 Electric Permit
$200 Gas/ Mechanical Permit
$750 Building Permit
The legislation will not be voted on for 2 weeks, but once passed will be effective starting May 2, the same date which Mayor Dean declared Nashville a disaster area. Citizens will be able to apply for assistance through July 31.
Codes Status Update
Inspectors, in coordination with planning, continue damage assessments.
Codes inspectors are preparing to assist other agencies working to address dwellings made inhabitable by flood damage.
Permitting and Inspection outposts will be opened in severely affected areas of Metro. These outposts will remain in place for 30 to 45 days and will provide residential building permits and residential/commercial building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections.
Pumping Station Road Collapses; No Public Impact
Pumping Station Road, a service road that runs off Omohundro Drive to the Omohundro Water Treatment Plant, collapsed this morning. The damage is being evaluated by Public Works. Police officers have blocked the roadway. An alternate route to the plant has been established.
Fraud Advisory
The Metro Police Department's Fraud Unit urges citizens to be extremely cautious when dealing with telephone and email solicitations for money in the name of disaster relief. One Nashville woman who used her debit card to donate over the Internet to what she thought was a legitimate charity has reported a number of unauthorized withdrawals from her checking account arising out of the United Kingdom. The Police Department urges citizens to deal with charities at their offices or over secure Internet sites. Citizens are also encouraged to donate with credit not debit cards.
Weekend Weather
According to the National Weather Service there is a possibility of about a 1/4 inch of rain tonight, and it should be fast moving; and there is a slight possibility of thunderstorm activity overnight
Metro Water Services Update
Forecasted Rainfall
In anticipation of rainfall this evening, Metro Water Services encourages all property owners and businesses to check the metal storm drain grates near their homes and businesses and clear them of debris. Debris should be removed from the surface and NOT swept or pushed into the stormdrain. This will help keep rainwater from pooling on our roadways and causing a safety hazard.
Water Reserves
The public water supply provided by Metro Water Services continues to be safe, but still is at risk of depletion if conservation measures are not continued. Our water reserves as of 8 AM on Friday were 56% which is a marked improvement from 52% at 8 AM on Thursday. Customers in higher elevations may still experience reduced water pressure. If a customer loses pressure completely or has discolored water, they should contact Metro Water Services at (615) 862-4600.
K.R. Harrington Water Treatment Update
As of Friday morning, pumps and motors have been removed and sent to be dried and tested; crews continue to work around the clock to complete repairs on the electrical distribution system within the facility; and the new instrumentation for water quality measurement is expected to arrive today. 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.
Non-potable water made available for cleaning
As a courtesy to those who need water for cleaning and watering plants while drinking water is in short supply, Metro Water Services has arranged several sources of large quantity non-potable water is to be available on May 7. This water supply should be used for activities including nursery plant watering, sidewalk and street cleaning, and neighborhood cleanup. This water is being pumped from flooded basements at two large downtown facilities. The intention is to fill large trucks or vehicles with tanks intended for transporting non-potable water.
People needing water must provide their own trucks with tanks or vehicles intended for transporting water. This operation cannot support filling milk jugs, pitchers, or other small containers. Where possible, contractors will provide assistance in filling the tanks/trucks.
Times and locations non potable water can be obtained are:
· Noon to 5 p.m. or until water is gone
The Pinnacle at Symphony Place
Filling Location: 1st and Demonbreun
Directions: Gateway Bridge to 1st Ave, right two blocks to Demonbreun
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. M-F and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat.
West End Summit – 1600 West End
Filling location: One entrance off of West end and second entrance off of 16th Ave.*
* Neither contractors nor pumps will be available at this site. You must supply your own!
Metro Water Services, the property owners, and the contractors operating the pumps assume no liability.
Public Works Debris and Household Trash Collection and Removal
Metro Public Works crews began collecting disaster debris on Thursday in the hardest-hit communities of Davidson County, and will continue operations today and throughout the weekend.
Yesterday, trucks were in the Boone Trace subdivision and Newsome Station areas of Bellevue; Benzing/Tusculum Road area of Antioch; and Bordeaux communities along King’s Lane and Tucker Road.
After the first full day of operations, Public Works collected an estimated 2,100 cubic yards of debris, or about 80 truckloads.
PW trucks returned this morning to communities along West Hamilton Avenue and Tucker Road in North Nashville; Antioch Pike, Blue Hole Road and Tusculum Road in SE Nashville; and Beech Bend, Harpeth Bend and Morton Mill Road communities in Bellevue. We hope to have trucks rolling through neighborhoods in Pennington Bend and Inglewood later today.
Metro officials are working to finalize contracts with private vendors for additional trucks and crews to supplement PW vehicles, and expand operations to more communities starting Monday.
A comprehensive plan and schedule for Metro’s countywide disaster debris collection will be available on Monday.
Donations
Flood relief donations are still in need throughout the Metro Nashville area. Items in bulk, pallets, or packed large quantities are preferred and are a priority. Various bulk items needed include:
Bulk Non-perishable foods – canned meats, canned vegetables/fruits, box cereal/pasta, baby food/formula, peanut butter, and boxed meals.
Bulk Supplies, Accessories and Tools – Shop Vacs (wet/dry vacuums), baby diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves/boots, brooms, mops, fans/dehumidifiers and generators.
Cash and Monetary gifts – can be made on the web with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee at www.cfmt.org or via phone at 888-540-5200.
All bulk and large quantity donations including money can be processed through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Companies and corporations are encouraged to lead the way with bulk donations, but citizens who can donate these items may also do so.
Citizens donating non-bulk or small quantities of the needed items should contact the Community Resource Center (CRC) at 911 Division St. Nashville, TN 37203. The email contact for this location is betsycrc@comcast.net .
Red Cross Disaster Assistance
Effective immediately, individuals needing Red Cross Assistance must call toll-free
1-866- GET- INFO (1-866-438-4636).
Currently there are three Red Cross shelters open: Lipscomb University with 85 residents and capacity for 200; Gordon Jewish Community Center with 12 residents and capacity for 200; and the Al Menah Shrine center with 32 residents and capacity for 300.
- All three locations have fixed feeding sites for anyone who needs a meal.
- We have eight mobile feeding routes in Davidson County, and clients in need should look for ARC Emergency Response Vehicles in their neighborhoods.
- We are doing Red Cross damage assessment in Davidson County to evaluate how many homes have been destroyed, have minor or major damage, or have been otherwise affected.
- We are providing “clean up kits” at the five Disaster Information Centers in Davidson County. Clean up kits contain the following items: bleach, buckets, storage containers, coolers, work gloves, hand sanitizer, hoses with nozzle, insect repellent, dust masks, rakes, rope, shovel, sun screen, duct tape, and trash bags.
- In Davidson County, to date the Red Cross has provided 8149 meals, 10,868 snacks, 1050 clean up kits, and 1232 comfort kits to affected families and individuals.
Nashville Electric Service
Current customers without power: 3,066
The Demonbreun Street East Side Downtown network is up, and the following customers have power.
- Country Music Hall of Fame
- Encore
- Hilton Hotel
- Magnetek
- One Nashville Place
- RC Mathews Garage (CMT)
- South Central Bell Office Tower (AT&T)
- South Central Bell Toll Bldg (167 2nd Ave. N)
NOTE: Wildhorse Saloon - Hilton Courtyard - Nashville Symphony have requested NOT to be brought online at this time.
NES crews are going business-to- business checking transformers and other equipment to determine which business can be re-energized on the general network. That should begin later this weekend.
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 before NES can restore power. This particular safety issue CANNOT be waived.
NES will be waiving the following fees to FLOOD VICTIMS:
- $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.
Piedmont Natural Gas Safety Bulletin
If water has entered your home or come in contact with natural gas appliances:
- Call Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504 so we can inspect your meter and your natural gas appliances for possible flood damage.
- Do not attempt to disconnect your gas service or work on or around your gas meter.
- Do not attempt to relight any of your gas appliances.
- Do not attempt to clear flood debris from your gas meter or from any other gas appliance, including your water heater.
If your gas appliances have been damaged or submerged by flood waters:
- Do not attempt to make repairs yourself or use unauthorized, unlicensed individuals to work on your natural gas appliances.
- It is imperative that residents choose a licensed contractor who follows all safety and manufacturer guidelines.
- Unauthorized repairs can be unsafe and may void your warranty. Call your appliance manufacturer if you are unsure about work being performed.
- Some gas appliances damaged by water may need to be replaced.
- You can choose to work with Piedmont Natural Gas or other local approved Gas Advantage Dealers to repair or replace damaged appliances.
- Customers can view technical information on water heaters on Piedmont’s website at www.piedmontng.com.
If your home was not damaged by flooding, but your natural gas service was interrupted, call Piedmont Natural Gas to schedule an appointment.
Roadway/Signals/Pavement Damage Assessment and Repairs
Yesterday, MPW repaired roads, culverts and traffic signals countywide, but concentrating on areas hardest-hit by flooding, including Old Harding Rd over Little Harpeth River; Tulip Grove Rd in Hermitage; Elm Hill Pk over Mill Creek
Among roadways we plan to open today are Vaughn's Gap Rd, Percy Warner Rd, Newsome Station Rd. in Bellevue, and OHB at Barnes Rd in Cane Ridge/Antioch. Extensive repairs continue at several locations, including Morrow Rd., Tucker Rd , Knight Rd (N Nashville), Hicks Rd (Bellevue) and Hobbs Rd near Julia Green School
We have repaired signal boxes at key locations in flooded areas (Bellevue and Antioch) to get traffic moving thru these neighborhoods. Today we will be working on signal issues in the Opry Mills/Pennington Bend area. Several downtown signal locations are still underway and on the list to repair as soon as we can access.
Today, are going back in more areas where the water has subsided to inventory and repair roads and bridges.
DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS
General Information
- Metro Hotline 862-8574
- Metro Channel 3
- 211
- FEMA Legal Help/Fraud Prevention Hotline 1-888-395-9297
In addition to the Disaster Information Centers we are now deploying crews from the Sheriff’s Office equipped with food, water, cleaning supplies and critical information to neighborhood "hot spots" throughout the county. We've deployed to eight of these neighborhood sites in the last 24 hours.
Disaster Information Centers
These Centers will remain open through the weekend with the following operating hours:Friday/Saturday : 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday 12-6 p.m. Next week’s hours will be released tomorrow. Disaster Centers will remain open until FEMA centers are up and operational on the ground.
Since Tuesday, Disaster Centers have met with 2,600 displaced people and distributed 1,800 Second Harvest emergency food boxes. Salvation Army has fed 5,330 meals through Disaster Centers.
Centers will provide: food, water, personal hygiene supplies and information about city services and FEMA registration. Metro Public Health and Social Service case workers are on site, and Legal Aid/TN Bar Association legal assistance clinics are operating at each site.
On Saturday and Sunday the public can come to the Centers to pick up limited quantities of cleaning supplies to assist with home restoration efforts. This weekend, Centers will serve as staging areas for volunteer neighborhood clean up sweeps.
Centers are not equipped for emergency medical needs. Residents who have security and health emergencies should call 9-1-1.
Disaster Information Centers are in the following locations:
- 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
Questions about Disaster Info Centers should be directed to Laurel Creech, Metro’s Chief Service Officer, via email at laurel.creech@nashville.gov
Neighborhood Hot Spot Response
Small teams of employees from Metro Codes, Public Works and Health are delivering key supplies and disaster information to neighborhoods where residents are stranded or being sheltered in place. Currently working hot spots in the Neely’s Bend of Madison. Neighorhood Hot Spots should be reported to Billy Fields: billy.fields@nashville.gov
Translation Services
We have coordinated bilingual outreach and translation services with Conexcion Americas and TN Immigration Rights Coalition. They are providing daily assessment maps of pockets of non English speakers and their needs and providing translation services for key documents. Current languages are: Spanish, Arabic, Somali and Kurdish. Other languages will be provided as needed.
Legal/Fraud Prevention
The TN Legal Aid Society/TN Young Lawyers Division is coordinating disaster legal clinics through the Disaster Information Centers. Lawyers are onsite to provide a variety of support including insurance, housing and FEMA filings. A FEMA Legal Hotline will be established later this week.
Case Management
Metro is working through Metro Social Services, Centerstone, Catholic Charities, TN Disabilities Coalition and others to create a long term plan for case management and transitions for individuals who need social and support services due to displacement.
Rental Housing Database for Flood Victims
The massive flooding in Middle Tennessee will displace many households for weeks and months to come. A database of rental housing is ready for landlords to add properties and for searchers to identify available properties. Nashville’s housing leaders urge property owners to post properties right away.
The database is www.TNHousingSearch.org. It is free for landlords to post property and free for renters to search. The database allows for a high level of detail including photographs, location, access to public transportation, bedroom and bathroom count, square footage, rent amount and amenities, including pet allowances.
TNHousingSearch.com is open to properties of all rental levels and types. It is not relegated to subsidized properties. Duplexes, multi-family units, manufactured homes and single family homes are all appropriate to list. Landlords can easily post properties with Social Serve, the site manager, by communicating on-line at the site, through phone (1-877-428-8844), e-mail, or fax (1-866-265-7811). Landlords will receive a user name and password to control listing information. Once a property is leased, the landlord “hides” the property from view while it is maintained in the database for easy retrieval.
Renters can search for properties by city or county name and display several properties on a map at once to determine the best location for them.
TNHousingSearch.org is an important part of Tennessee’s disaster housing intervention plan and is already being used by caseworkers and agencies across affected areas to relocate those in need of housing.
Metropolitan Action Commission to Provide Meals for Children
On Thursday, the Metropolitan Action Commission, working through the Flood Resource Center in St. Paul AME Church at 3340 West Hamilton Road, began distributing box meals for children normally served by the federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Volunteers will go door to door in the North Nashville area providing these meals to the children. Distribution continues today beginning at 3 p.m. Because school is closed there is concern that children who normally receive meals through this program at their local school may have difficulty receiving regular meals.
A Free Community Concert with Christopher Cross and the Nashville Symphony, Other Concert Performances Moved to Alternate Venues
The Nashville Symphony will perform a FREE public concert to thank the citizens of Nashville for helping friends, neighbors and fellow citizens through the unprecedented events of the last few days. The concert will take place on Nashville's Public Square, located directly in front of the Metro Courthouse tonight (Friday, May 7). Maestro Giancarlo Guerrero and Resident Conductor Albert-George Schram will lead a program of symphonic favorites, and recording legend Christopher Cross will join the orchestra to perform a selection of his beloved hits.
The Nashville Symphony has decided to present this concert as a way of helping the community find solace and healing. This night of great music will help remind everyone that there's hope for our community, and that together we can overcome the obstacles before us. Thanks to the generosity of the Nashville Downtown Partnership and Metro Nashville Government, we will be offering FREE parking for this event at the Metro Courthouse/ Public Square Garage. Located directly under the Public Square, these parking spaces will be available from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on a first come, first served basis. Bring chairs or blankets, and come enjoy an evening of wonderful music with the Nashville Symphony!
The Nashville Symphony will offer most of the remaining concerts in its 2009/10 season at alternative venues while Schermerhorn Symphony Center undergoes repairs. Both the Symphony's upcoming presentation of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its performances of Bartók's stunning Bluebeard's Castle will take place in TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall. Current information can also be found on our website, NashvilleSymphony.org.
Emergency Waiver of HOV Lane Restrictions
HOV lane restrictions on Davidson County Interstates are now temporarily waived until further notice. This action will enable emergency personnel, work crews and the public, to utilize all available lanes to move traffic more smoothly and safely, as the recovery phase of the catastrophic flooding gets underway
Urban Search & Rescue Teams Continue (USAR)
NFD, MNPD, OEM Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams have searched and marked over 1,100 homes. There will be no door to door operations today by USAR teams. The 2 current areas of focus are the Harpeth River and Mill Creek areas. The Harpeth River will be searched by boat teams, possibly using divers as well. In the Lebanon Road area foot teams will be searching along the riverbanks. There are currently 2 people still missing.
Police Continue to Monitor Flood Damaged Neighborhoods
Metro police helicopters during the night used spotlights and infrared radar to continue monitoring flood damaged neighborhoods throughout Nashville. Areas covered during the night were the Harpeth River bottom, Waterford Crossing neighborhood, Pennington Bend, Pry Mills, Morrow Road, W. Hamilton Road and Metro Center. SWAT officers during the night checked a number of areas by foot and utility vehicles to deter any looting. The police department received five looting calls early today. One arrest was made.
Flood-Related Death Toll Remains at Nine; Two Persons Still Missing
The flood-related death toll remains at nine. Two persons are still missing.
Emergency Communication Center
The Emergency Communications Center is currently operating with minimal overtime. No delay or back up on 9-1-1. No calls pending for Fire/EMS. As of 8:30 a.m. today nineteen calls were pending for police assistance, which is comparable to normal averages.
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.
FEMA
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.
- When applying please have the following information available:
- Current telephone number
- Address at time of disaster and address where you are currently staying
- Your social security number, if available
- A general list of damages and losses
- If insured, the name of your insurance company and your policy number
- Bank account coding if you wish to speed up your assistance by using direct deposit
Individual assistance to homeowners and renters can include grants to pay for temporary housing, home repairs, and other serious disaster related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. Also, low interest loans are available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Also, a limited number of FEMA contracted housing inspectors are assessing properties. They will always wear official FEMA identification and will never ask for personal information such as social security numbers. Inspectors also do not approach applicants without prior contact, and will never ask payment.
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 with Free Fares on Most Routes
Beginning on Monday the Nashville MTA is planning to increase the frequency of bus service to a Saturday schedule. The Music City Circuit, Music City Star train and all regional bus services will operate, including the 96X Murfreesboro service.
Today, we are continuing to operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. The buses are crowded since this is a reduced level of service during the weekday and the service is free.
Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, May 8, 2010, the 30 McFerrin bus route will be in service. This means we will have 22 routes operating.
Customers, who are eligible for MTA’s AccessRide van services can book reservations for emergency medical trips such as dialysis and can begin booking reservations today for Saturday and future work trips, but not site visits.
The AccessRide phone number is 880-3970.
Customer call center employees are on duty at a temporary Metro office location to handle inquiries. The telephone number is (615) 862-5950. AccessRide customers may call 880-3970, while RTA customers should call 862-8833. Customers should also review the nashvillemta.org Web site for updates. A list of the bus routes and their modifications will be posted on the Web.
Health Department
The Metro Health Department is currently out of tetanus vaccine, but expects 2,400 doses to arrive at the Lentz Public Health Center by 12 p.m. today. Vaccines will then be available at the Lentz clinic, and doses will also be sent to the following locations:
Lentz Public Health Center
311 23rd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 340-5616
East Clinic
1015 East Trinity Lane
Nashville, TN 37216
(615) 862-7916
Woodbine Clinic
224 Oriel Avenue
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 862-7940
Disaster Information Centers throughout Davidson County.
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.
Metro Parks Initiative
Metro Parks in support of the water conservation directive has disabled all irrigation systems connected to Metro Water Department water sources since the flood. The irrigation systems at the Two Rivers and Ted Rhodes Golf courses each pump from ponds on site, the McCabe Golf course pumps out of Richland Creek and the Shelby Golf course pumps out of Lake Sevier. For status of park closures, please visit www.nashville.gov/parks.