Tennessee Living

Tennessee residents face severe losses following the devastating flood of May 2010. The densely populated Nashville area was among the hardest hit, but damage extends throughout Middle and West Tennessee and includes a number of farms whose recently planted crops were washed away in a single weekend. Below is information on what happened and how you can help.

Tennessee Farms
A number of Tennessee farmers are facing the loss of their crops following the record-setting floodwaters. Danny Rochelle had just planted 250 acres of corn in Hickman County, one of the hardest hit areas. “It’s all under about 20 to 30 feet of water,” Rochelle told The Tennessean in a story about how the Tennessee floods are affecting agriculture. He estimates a cost of at least $30,000, and his crop insurance will only cover a small fraction of that amount. Now, he and other farmers in the same situation must decide whether to replant corn or switch to soybeans.

The 200-acre Delvin Farms supplies food to CSAs and restaurants in Middle Tennessee. “We went from one of the best-looking years of crops we’ve had in a long time [...] to devastation and we’ve now lost 50 percent of our early crops,” Hank Delvin said in an interview on Home & Farm radio. (CSAs are community-supported agriculture programs that provide shares of their crops to residents and businesses.) Avalon Acres is another Middle Tennessee CSA affected by the flood. “We estimate our losses to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $23,000,” they said in an e-newsletter to clients, explaining that this includes crops, fencing and 1,200 chickens. However, they are already making recovery efforts and only missed one week of delivery. “The outpouring of love, support, prayer, offers for donations, offers for working has been overwhelming and we are so grateful for customers like you. For our new customers… we know this is a step of faith you are taking with us, and we appreciate it a lot and do not plan to let anyone down.”

Please stay tuned for information on how the Tennessee Farm Bureau is helping farms affected by the flood once the damage to farms is assessed and plans are in place.

Nashville
“Nashville took a hit last weekend and a few of our signature properties will need time to recover, but the music is still playing,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Our hallmark attractions and hotels are open, and our world famous hospitality is ready to welcome guests. Nashville’s hospitality industry remained largely intact while record breaking rains fell over the city.”

Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House sustained water damage, but Tennesseans and country music fans know that the Grand Ole Opry isn’t a place – it’s an experience. Just two days after the flood, on May 4 country music star and Opry member Marty Stuart played for an enthusiastic crowd at War Memorial Auditorium, a former home of the Opry. The Opry show will go on, and as they and many other downtown Nashville landmarks recover from this disaster, we encourage our readers to spread the word that Music City is still open for business.

West Tennessee
Water continued to rise in the western part of the state, particularly in the Dyersburg community, days after the rivers began to recede in Nashville. According to Disaster Recovery Services of Dyer County, the Forked Deer River crested at over 30 feet – nearly 9 feet above the flood stage.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper says at least 461 homes and businesses were flooded.

“This is pretty much of epic proportions,” said Darrell Butler, co-publisher of a Dyer County history newsletter and website.

How To Help Tennessee Flood Victims

• Rural Recovery: Donate to flood relief efforts for Tennessee farms and rural communities
• How East Tennessee residents can help flood victims
• Overview of how to help Nashville flood victims with money, material donations or volunteer work
• TEMA Donation Hotline: (866) 586-4483
• Salvation Army Donation Helpline: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)

Red Cross Chapters
• Benton County Chapter, Camden, Phone: 901-584-6333
• Clarksville – Montgomery County Chapter
• Dyer County Chapter
• Jackson Area Chapter
• Mid-South Chapter, Memphis
• Nashville Area Chapter
• Obion County Chapter, Union City, Phone: (731) 885-5113

Flood Recovery Tips from UT Extension

You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional updates.

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Magazine:
Tennessee Home & Farm, Fall 2010 Edition Edition

Headline:
Tennessee Flood: How You Can Help

Summary:
Help Tennessee farmers, families and friends recover from the devastating flood.

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