Things are moving along

While the Cumberland is still wreaking havoc a lot of the local rivers and tributaries are starting to settle down and recede. We still have some roads closed because of mud, hillsides sliding and lower areas still full of water. Clean up is being done as areas open back up.

This is one of our "Eye in the Sky" choppers that is monitoring and televising conditions. It landed at our middle school yesterday as I was walking by. 

A local update

Interstate 40 between Hwy 70 and south/west to the Tennessee River is closed. Many 18 wheelers are parked on the side or pulling over. Our section is still flooded and E/W the on/off ramps are closed and backed up with traffic. Much of south Bellevue is still either under water or closed off for safety reasons.
IF YOU DO NOT ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE IN OUR TOWN PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO COME. For your own safety please wait.
AT&T (Bellsouth) is out so anyone on their system is without phone, electricity, T.V. computer or any combination thereof. (about 7,500 in our area). We are without our phone. Comcast is intermittent.
One of the two water treatment plants is out so we have been advised to conserve water.
Bellevue MS is being used to shelter people as is the JCC.
Hwy 100 from about Ensworth HS (flooded) is closed. Old Harding Pike from Sawyer Brown is closed.
TDOT is trying to keep up with everything but they are swamped.
If you are out driving please pay close attention to drivers ahead of you suddenly coming to a halt for no apparent reason. Not a good time to be gawking or talking on the cell phone.
Two of the entrances into the post office strip mall area are flooded in sections. I did not go further up because of the backed up traffic.
We run into the Pegram, Kingston Springs, Newsome Station area and it's a mess. Emergency workers are trying to evacuate people so please stay out of their way.
Most of the churches are working on ways to help their congregations and other local residents. (Our ward HPG and other leaders have done everything possible thus far to try and account for everyone in our group. Joe and Christopher are our contact people.)
Hands On Nashville is the place to contact if you want to physically volunteer http://www.hon.org/ The Red Cross also needs assistance and will always be accepting donations. Also Metro Disaster Fund will take donations http://www.cfmt.org/osc/product_info.php?products_id=161

Further out.
We are now being told that the dams are going to be bled to alleviate water pressure Nashville may experience more flooding. Police are advising people/walkers to leave the downtown area.
The US Coast Guard has arrived in the Donalson area and are getting their boats ready to evacuate people.
Oprymills Hotel evacuated about 2,000 people last night as a precaution to McGavock HS and are filling buses to try and get everyone out of the area. If you are looking for information about a loved one in that area check McGavock first since Opryland area is under water.

A state of emergency

Well dear people, Tennessee will probably be declared a disaster area by tomorrow. Davidson County, where I live, already is declared. We have had severe rain since yesterday morning (approx 18" thus far with more to come).
Every creek and river broke their banks and the Cumberland River is inching up to level with 1st. Avenue in downtown Nashville. The flood level stick is currently at about 47 ft. there.
Many roads are closed or impassable, houses have been washed away. Cars are stacked up. Highways and Interstates are closed or being closed. There's an 8 mile traffic jam on the interstate at Bellevue. PLEASE STAY HOME AND DO NOT TRAVEL IN OUR COUNTY UNLESS YOU ARE EMERGENCY CREWS. Power, phones, internet is intermittent.
We are on a hill and while we have a soggy basement and a tree down, we are nowhere near as bad as our neighbors across the street or further into Bellevue. People have been evacuated where necessary and the rest of us are just sitting things out and getting organized for a major clean-up once the rain storms stop.
Our home is available for anyone local who needs somewhere to stay overnight.
Some photographs along our street from yesterday and today can be found at our family blog http://jocarhansenfamily.blogspot.com/

We are in the sliver of town between Hwy's 100 and 70, both are flooded in a number of areas because of the Harpeth River. One of the main concerns is what condition the roads will be in once the water has subsided.
It's been about 1928 since the flooding has been this bad but as our neighbor Betty said "the rain will stop at some point and the sun will come out" :)