This past weekend a tragedy came through my part of the world. While no one I am directly connected to was hurt (thank God), thousands of people were displaced and their lives were destroyed or put on hold by the devastating flooding that hit Middle Tennessee.
Many parts of Nashville and Middle TN have now qualified as a federal disaster area, and they need as much help as they can get. Unfortunately, the national news media has given the Tennessee flooding a shockingly small amount of attention. This lack of national attention means that not only is cleanup slower than it could be, but that there are some people who are still missing loved ones lost in the water.
So I am taking it upon myself and calling on the blogosphere for help.
This disaster is one of the closest that has ever hit near my home. Nashville has always been my place to go when I needed a weekend trip, somewhere to get away from life for a day or two. Now, I can’t do that. My favorite used bookstore is gone, I’m sure. As are my favorite restaurants and even the movie theater I loved for big releases and IMAX spectacles. In other words, the city itself is on hold until the flood damage can be taken care of. And they need our help. They cannot recover without it.
Ways You Can Help
The American Red Cross is doing everything they can to provide for the victims. I urge you to take the time and donate anything you can to help get Music City and her citizens back on their feet.
The easiest way to help is simply text REDCROSS to 90999 on your cell phone. Doing so will automatically donate $10 to the Red Cross’ efforts to help those in need in Nashville, TN.
You can find more information about the Nashville, TN flooding disaster and what you can do to help at the American Red Cross website.
One additional note: If you have a blog or a Twitter account or Facebook or any other way of sharing this post or the information in it, can you please share a link? The more people we have talking about this disaster online, the more potential there is for people to donate or help make a difference in someone’s life in some other way. From the bottom of my heart, thank you in advance.
Thank you for this post! I live in Nashville, I can see the skyline and Titan stadium from my living room. This disaster has been the craziest thing I have ever seen and I am very thankful for my family making through ok.
Do the Write Thing for Nashville – http://dothewritethingfornashville.blogspot.com/ is a cool website that is auctioning off writing related things and services for Nashville flood relief.
And you said “My favorite used bookstore is gone, I’m sure.” Which store are you worried about?
That’s a fantastic blog, Dylan. Thanks for sharing. I wish I had any way to contribute to it.
And the bookstore was Bookman/Bookwoman in Hillsboro. I can’t imagine that community being that close to the river was left undamaged.
Pardon the vernacular, but I f**king love that city. Nashville is one of the greatest cities in the USA, and this whole mess has been heartbreaking. My wife and I have several friends from work who have lost a lot.
Also, this has been posted around Facebook, and sent through the emails of my office:
Tide Loads for Hope trucks are coming to Nashville on Wednesday, May 12. The Tide staff will literally wash, dry, and fold clothes for our neighbors who need it. Please contact Tide at 800-879-8433 (press 0 for operator) and let them know Nashville needs Loads of Hope. The more calls they receive the bigger priority we… become. (They’ll ask for your contact info.)
The Nashville flood was truly a once in 500 or 1,000 year event. Fortunately the volunteer efforts that poured into the community after wards made all the difference for many residents who lost everything.