As I went to bed Monday night/Tuesday morning just after midnight, around 12:40, I received a text from my mother that said “my weather alarm just went off for a tornado just northwest of you.” My immediate assumption of this was that she was referring to the tornados in lower Kentucky, but I dutifully opened my Weather Channel app & checked. It showed me nothing, just severe thunderstorms, so I went to sleep. I was awakened two-ish hours later by my dog, Harvey, barking. Whether he was barking at the lightning or the wind or the tornado sirens (apparently they went off, I didn’t hear them at all & I had my window open) I wasn’t sure, but I went into the living room to get him to stop. While up I found Evan on his phone & who casually dropped “Five Points is gone” without looking away from his screen. I said “what do you mean Five Points is gone?” He said “a tornado came through between 12:30 & 1:30 & took it out along with a lot of East Nashville & Germantown.” Little did we know that was far from the extent of the damage. From then on I spent the next several hours going from news sites to socials to figure out exactly what had gone down.
I’m sure a lot of you have seen the extent of the damage the two EF3 tornados brought to Nashville, Clarksville, & the surrounding areas. As of this moment that I’m writing this we lost 25 of those that called Nashville home, not to mention those who are still missing. The property damage is extensive, emotions run high, but the spirit of Nashville thrives. If you didn’t know, Tennessee is know as the Volunteer State, a tradition that dates back to the War of 1812, and I can firmly say that tradition holds true to this day. The response by the people of Nashville & its surrounding counties was immediate. Shelters were set up, donation sites & hotlines were activated, ground teams were put into work, but, my friends, we’re going to need a lot of help recovering.
I didn’t want to write too much in this blog about myself or my experiences because I’m fine. My house is fine, my body is unbroken, I am fine. And for that I thank God because I have witnessed the alternative. I have a lot of people I call friends who were directly impacted by the storm; those who hid it out in their closets, behind doors, or in their bathtubs. I have friends who are still without power & running water. I have friends who lost everything but their story rings true with so many folks from Nashville, Mt. Juliet, Clarksville, & Lebanon. I wanted to make the focal point of this blog all about helping.
If you have the ability the volunteer your time head over to www.hon.org & sign up. They send out daily volunteer opportunities but be warned, they fill up quickly. If you know someone effected offer them shelter, offer to help them clean up, don’t wait around for a volunteer spot to open up just because you feel you have to. There are ongoing postings on facebook, instagram, twitter about certain areas requesting certain types of work, grab one of them.
If you have the ability to donate specific supplies the current needs are:
Hygiene Products
Trash Bags
Gloves
Box Cutters
Leashes/Collars
Canned Meat
Tarps
Water
Non-Perishable Snacks
Bread
Peanut Butter
Flashlights
Hand Sanitizer
Towels
Feminine Products
Coloring Books & Pencils
These items can be donated at:
The Community Resource Center located at 218 Omohundro Place
Cross Point Church of Bellevue located at 7675 Us-70S, Nashville, TN 37221
Second Harvest Food Bank at 331 Great Circle Road
If you’d like to donate money visit cmft.org or unitedway.org, any amount counts!
If you are in Nashville & are still in need of shelter or provisions there are shelters & food available at the following locations:
Centennial Sportsplex (222 25th Ave N)
East Magnet School (110 Gallatin Ave.)
Bridgestone Arena
American Legion Post 82 (3204 Gallatin Pike)
Cookeville Community Center (240 Carlson Drive)
Inner Light Yoga (2227 10th Ave S)
Resource Hubs can be found at:
Eastland Funeral Home-Food at Noon (904 Gallatin Ave)
Zeal Church (5807 Charlotte Pike)
Lee Chapel AME Church (1200 Dr. DB Todd Jr. Blvd)
Victory Baptist Church (1777 Tate Lane)
Uhaul is offering 30 days of free self storage to displaced residents.
The following East Nashville Restaurants are offering Free Food and/or Coffee:
Five Daughters Bakery
Nicolettos
Cafe Roze
Retrograde Coffee
Brightside Bakeshop
Bongo East
Grilled Cheeserie at Hunter’s Station
I have no doubt Nashville will come out the other side of this a stronger community than the already thriving one that existed here. It won’t be without its scars but I truly do believe in you Nashville. I believe in your incredible strength, endurance, & resilience. Fight on, love one another, & please do everything in your power to help each other.
I Believe In Nashville