LIBERADIO(!)

(Updated Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 9:05 am CT)

We are Nashville

The 211

If you know or hear of a family or a community not getting the resources they need to help them get back on their feet after the flood call 2-1-1 or visit www.211tn.org.

The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management’s 211 division connects flood victims to the services they need. Whether it is food, shelter, counseling, or other social service needs, 211 is specifically designed to connect people with more than 2,800 health and human services agencies. All 211 calls are answered by nationally certified information and referral specialists who are fluent in several different languages. The caller is provided with phone numbers, programs and services, location, hours of operation and other information relevant to what the caller needs.

Volunteer / Special Relief Events

(Thursday, June 3, 2010)

* The Village Chapel recovery and rebuild effort needs volunteers. Unfortunately, the last couple of days have been slim as far as volunteers and they really need help to complete the remediation work in the Bordeaux community. Meet at 3199 LaGrange Dr, Nashville 37218 at 9 am to help with final stages of demolition work (drywall, flooring, insulation) and spraying (sprayers, bleach, and mold solution supplied by TVC).
* Visit Hands on Nashville website, www.hon.org, for up to the minute volunteer opportunities.
* Nashville residents should continue to conserve water. Just because it’s the right thing to do. OK, go ahead and water your lawn now, but you know what I mean.
*Department of Human Services Emergency Assistance for Tennessee flood victims now available. Click here for application [pdf].
* The East Nashville Flood Relief Center is up and running for donations this week at 407 Gallatin Road. Hours are 9am-6pm. Donations accepted include furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronics, small household goods, clothing, shoes, toiletries, toys and books. Please be sure all donations are in good working order and clean. Food donations will be left to other organizations.

Volunteer / Special Relief Events

(Saturday, June 5, 2010)

* Run for Nashville – On Saturday, June 5 in the Annandale neighborhood in Brentwood, there will be a 5K fun-run to raise funds for flood relief. Fifty percent of the registration fee will go to Hands On Nashville. For more information, visit www.thehomerun5k.com. (Source: Tennessean)

Volunteer / Special Relief Events

(Continuous & Upcoming)

* Nashville Paw has set up the Nashville Paw Flood Relief Donation Drive in order to help the many people and pets displaced by the Nashville Floods. As of May 28, they have delivered more than 10 truckloads of pet supplies to flood relief shelters and distribution centers, as well as many carloads of supplies to nearly 50 individual families in need. If your family and pets have been displaced by the floods and you are in need of pet supplies and food, please complete the Request For Donations Form at http://publishers-paw.nashvillepaw.com and we will be in touch as soon as possible in order to deliver a care package to you. Or, simply call Nashville Paw at (615) 474-5710 to request help.
* Support Nashville is attempting to put together a compilation album, the proceeds of which will go toward flood relief. Local bands who would like to be featured can apply at the site. (Source: WOTT and the Nashville Scene’s Nashville Cream Blog)
* Flood relief benefit auction – At 3 p.m. Friday, June 11, the Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction will take place at Ryman Auditorium. Stars contributing decorated guitars include Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Danny Gokey, Alan Jackson, George Jones, The Judds, Jake Owen, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and more. Chris Young will start the event with a performance. All proceeds from the auction will go to the Opry Trust Fund and be earmarked for flood relief. (Source: Tennessean)
* The folks in Dyer Co. now have t-shirts of their own. All proceeds go to the Dyer County American Red Cross Disaster Fund. Also, We Are Nashville t-shirts are still available. (H/T: Speak to Power)

Disaster Information Centers and Assistance

METRO NASHVILLE – Disaster Information Centers are no longer operational. On Monday, May 17, assistance provided at the Disaster Information Centers will transfer to FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (see above details) and a network of non-profit distribution centers (see locations below).

FEMA – Twelve Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) operated by the state of Tennessee and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are open for those affected by severe storms and flooding that started on April 30. The centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week until further notice. Disaster officials ask that before visiting the centers, people first register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for those with speech and hearing disabilities. Help in all languages is available. The DRCs are located at the following locations:

Middle Tennessee

Davidson County 100 Oaks Mall (near Hollywood 27) 719 Thompson Lane Nashville, TN 37204	Davidson County TSU Ford Complex Communications Building 2620 West Heiman St. Nashville, TN 32709	Davidson County Hartman Park Community Center 2801 Tucker Road Nashville, TN 37218
Williamson County Franklin City Hall 109 Third Ave. Franklin, TN 37064	Hickman County Centerville Church of Christ 138 N. Central Ave. Centerville, TN 37033	Montgomery County Montgomery County Civic Hall 350 Pageant Lane Clarksville, TN 37040
Sumner County Volunteer State Community College Wood Campus Center (2nd Floor) 1480 Nashville Pike Gallatin, TN 37066	Cheatham County Pegram City Hall 308 Highway 70 Pegram, TN 37143

West Tennessee

Haywood County Parks and Recreation Building 100 Boyd Ave. Brownsville, TN 38012	McNairy County Selmer Community Center 230 North 5th St. Selmer, TN 38375	Madison County West Forest Family Medical Clinic 779 West Forest Avenue Jackson, TN 38301
Dyer County Dyersburg Mall 2700 Lake Road Dyersburg, TN 38024	Shelby County Millington Civic Center 8077 Wilkinsville Millington, TN 38353	Tipton County National Guard Armory 4500 Mueller Brass Road Covington, TN 38019

FEMA MOBILE (MIDDLE TN) – Four FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC) will visit four counties designated for federal assistance in Middle Tennessee beginning Monday, May 17, for a two-and-half day stay, to provide assistance to people affected by the severe storms and flooding that started on April 30. MDRC hours of operation are Monday, May 17, from noon to 7 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time at the following locations:

Lewis County Howard P. Moore Emergency Communications Center 1116 Commerce Drive Hohenwald, TN 38462	Macon County Lafayette Fire Department 500 Franklin Ave. Lafayette, TN 37083
Jackson County Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency 238 N. Grundy Quarles Highway Gainesboro, TN 38562	Robertson County Robertson County EMA 1305 Hill St. Springfield, TN 37172

FEMA MOBILE (WEST TN) – Four FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC) will visit two counties designated for federal assistance in West Tennessee beginning Monday, May 17, for a two-and-half day stay, to provide assistance to people affected by the severe storms and flooding that started on April 30. MDRC hours of operation are Monday, May 17, from noon to 7 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time at the following locations::

Fayette County Oakland Fire Depart. 170 Doss Circle Oakland, TN 38060

Lauderdale County National Guard Armory 2425 Highway 51 South Ripley, TN 38063

NON-PROFIT AND FAITH-BASED DISTRIBUTION CENTERS The network of non-profit and faith-based distribution centers will allow citizens to access resources closer to their homes through congregations and agencies already well established in neighborhoods. This effort is coordinated through the Middle TN VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster), a network of more than 50 faith and non-profit organizations that will partner with the city in coordinating human services such as case management, mental health, housing transition, and food, water, personal hygiene supplies access as families and neighborhoods move more deeply into the recovery.

Beech Creek Missionary Baptist 3101 Curtis Street Monday – Friday 12 – 6:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.	Old Best Buy 5340 Hickory Hollow Pkwy Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.	Woodbine Community Center 222 Oriel Avenue Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
McGruder Family Resource Center 2013 25th Avenue North Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Otter Creek Church of Christ 5253 Granny White Pike Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.	Madison Square Shopping Center 726 Gallatin Pike Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. – noon
St. Lukes 5601 New York Avenue Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.	Bellevue Baptist Church 7400 Hwy 70 South Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION RECOVERY CENTER – An SBA Business Recovery Center is open now at Tennessee State University Avon Williams Campus (Downtown), 330 10th Avenue North, Room 200, Nashville, TN 37203. Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.. Click here to download the SBA fact sheet in english and spanish. As the nation’s leading provider of post-disaster assistance for non-farm, private sector disaster losses, the SBA plays an important role in helping homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes get back on their feet.
Those eligible for assistance include:

• Homeowners, who may borrow up to $200,000 to repair real estate;
• Renters and homeowners, who may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property;
• Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits, who may borrow up to $2 million for physical losses;
• Small businesses, who may borrow up to $2 million for economic losses.

Volunteer & Donate

* SOUTHEAST NASHVILLE: The Southeast Nashville Flood Relief partnership organized by Rev. Jay Voorhees of the Antioch United Methodist Church, is coordinating to help persons with documentation issues who have lost everything in the floods and are unable to participate in FEMA assistance. Donations are tax-deductible and 100% will be directed toward relief and rebuilding efforts. Visit their website at www.senashvillefloodhelp.com.
* BENEFIT ITEMS A comprehensive collection of Nashville flood posters, t-shirts, and bumper stickers available here.
* NASHVILLE: Hands On Nashville volunteer sign-up (on behalf of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management) or call 615.862.8583 (contact person Brian Williams).
* NASHVILLE CASH DONATIONS The most urgent need continues to be cash donations which can be made to the Metro Disaster Fund at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
* NASHVILLE MATERIAL DONATIONS Requests include large quantities of the following: diapers, formula, cleaning supplies and rubber gloves, wet vacs, brooms, mops, and generators. If citizens have large quantities, they should contact the Community Foundation.
* NASHVILLE NON-BULK & SMALL ITEMS Non-bulk or small quantities of the needed items should go to the Community Resource Center (CRC) at 911 Division St. Nashville, TN 37203. The email contact for this location is betsycrc@comcast.net.
* Effective immediately, individuals needing Red Cross Assistance can call toll-free 1-866- GET- INFO (1-866-438-4636).
* EAST NASHVILLE LARGE ITEMS: Large item donations in East Nashville can be brought to 407 Gallatin Road, next to Sherwin Williams and across from Firestone, near East Literature School. This location will be open for receipt of donations of furniture, lamps, lighting, larger household items, appliances, AC/heating equipment, duct work, etc. PLEASE NOTE that donations of clothing, other personal items, and smaller house-wares will continue to be accepted at the East Park Community Center, 700 Woodland St.
* ONLINE FUNDRAISING: In an effort to raise more than $100,000, Nashville and Franklin-based accessories store Whats-in-Store has added an online-only selection of jewelry where 100% of sales will be donated to flood relief. New items are being added daily. (H/T: Stella Shops)

Clean-up, Health, and Water Conservation

* The Salvation Army is providing Emergency Assistance and Relief (clean-up kits, personal hygiene kits, food boxes, bottled water, paper goods, toiletries, diapers, and emotional and spiritual care to those in need) at the following six locations: Magness-Potter Community Center, 611 Stockell Street, Nashville 37207 Hours: 9-5 p.m. Phone: 255-0554 (also provides monetary financial assistance), Madison Citadel Corps, 425 Neelys Bend Rd, Madison 37115 Hours: M-F 9-4; Sat. 9-1pm, Murfreesboro Corps, 1137 West Main St, Murfreesboro Hours: 8 – 6 p.m., Hispanic Corps, Serving East Nashville and Antioch Area 37209 (roving), Laotian Corps, Serving Antioch Area (roving).
* Flood Repair Guidelines: A building permit is required prior to making repairs to flood damaged homes and buildings. Click here for pdf of guidelines including who can pull a permit, guidelines for addressing mold, guidelines for repair of electrical systems and water heaters exposed to flood water, guidelines for re-starting water damages heating and cooling equipment, etc. Department of Codes and Building Safety is located at 800 2nd Avenue, South Nashville, TN 37210 or call 615 862-6500. Website: www.nashville.gov/flood/guidelines.asp
* Owners of flood-damaged single family residential properties may be able to receive their flood repair permits online, with no visit to the Codes department required. Property Owners who presently occupy or intend to occupy the residence and want to do the repair work themselves may use Metro Nashville’s on-line permitting system. This system can be used from any computer which has access to the internet. Click here for more details.
* Cumberland River Compact Short-Term Water Saving Tips for Nashville (Quick, cheap and easy choices you can do now).
* Metro Nashville Public Works info and debris collection guidelines [pdf]. All remaining flood debris should be set out on the street by Tuesday, June 1. Residents who have questions can call 311 or Public Works Customer Service at (615) 880-1000. (H/T: Newschannel 5)
* FEMA / Red Cross guide on “Repairing Your Flooded Home.” [pdf]
* Piedmont Natural Gas If your home or business has been flooded and you have concerns about your natural gas service or natural gas appliances in use call 1-800-752-7504. If your natural gas appliance has been damaged or submerged by flood waters it must be replaced. Before any digging or excavating, customers should call 811 to have their natural gas (and other utilities) lines located.

* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for re-entering a flooded home.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for skin and wound contact with flooded water.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for protecting yourself from mold.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for keeping food safe.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for protecting yourself from mosquitores.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for determining if you need a tetanus shot.
* Metro Public Health Department – info about applying for disaster assistance.
* Metro Public Health Department – info about water conservation.
* Guidelines for water conservation: use water for drinking and food preparation only until further notice – please turn off all automatic sprinkler systems.
* Creating a healthy home: A Field Guide for Clean-up of Flooded Homes [pdf]
* Mental Health Hotline: 615-244-7444
* Cleaning up Heirlooms. The Tennessee State Museum offers info on how to clean up heirlooms damaged in the flood.

Food and Shelter

* Second Harvest Food Bank are providing emergency food boxes for families, Locations are (1) Martha O’Bryan Center, 711 South 7th Street (2) Napier Community Center, 73 Fairfield Ave (3) Hamilton United Methodist Church, 3105 Hamilton Church Rd (4) Goodlettsville Help Center, 108 Depot St (5) Una Church of Christ, 1917 Murfreesboro Road (6) St. Phillips Episcopal Church, 85 Fairway Dr (7) Salvation Army Magness Potter Ctr., 611 Stockell St, and (8) St. Luke’s Community House, 5601 New York Ave
* 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. Red Cross is also 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.
* The Salvation Army is providing meals, beverages and snacks at these locations: Bellvue Community (Roaming Feeding Canteen), Madison Neely’s Bend Area, Richard Mobile Home Park, Antioch, Morrow/Illinois Avenues, Ashland City (Roaming Feeding Canteen(, Kingston Springs (Roaming Feeding Canteen), and Pegram (Roaming Feeding Canteen).
* Flood assistance. Those in need of shelter or assistance can reach the Red Cross at (615) 250-4300. For non-emergencies, call (615) 862-8574.

FEMA Information

FEMA will be capping all Home Repair Grants at $29,900 per home to repair it to a safe and sanitary condition. If insurance covers any of the repairs this will reduce the amount of the grant. For instance, if insurance covers $10,000, then FEMA will only grant $19,900.

Remember that low interest loans are available for additional repairs up to $200,000 (depending on individual case, value of home, etc.)

Also, write down everything you do! How much time you spend, who helps you and how much time they spend, anything you spend on repairs, and especially any time to you talk to someone from FEMA and get advice. Write down who it was and what they said.

The FEMA website also has tips on getting rid of mold, trying to salvage pictures, etc. (www.fema.gov)

* Mark the water level in the effected home. clearly document with photos, markings on walls, etc.
* You can throw out big items (furniture, computers, rugs, etc.,) but document, document, document them first.
* Keep receipts, take a photo of the item where it sits in the home AND a photo of it once its on the street or loaded in a truck/etc.
* For carpets, cut a swatch of the carpet and keep it to show FEMA/insurance company the quality level of the carpet you had.

(H/T: Councilman Erik Cole)

Other Information

* REBUILDING: Guidelines for permits associated with the repair of flood-damaged homes and buildings can be downloaded here [pdf].
Legal Services – Flood victims facing legal issues may call the Tennessee statewide Disaster Legal Services Hotline at 1-888-395-9297 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. central time Monday through Friday to request assistance. (FEMA, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, and the Tennessee Bar Association). Messages can be left at any time. Callers should identify that they are seeking flood-related legal assistance. Victims who qualify for assistance will be matched with Tennessee lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal help. Turnaround time to connect with an attorney is about 24 hours.
* Legal Services – Free legal service for flood victims is available at the Metro Nashville disaster service centers, as well as several legal clinics, Monday through Friday through a joint program of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, the Nashville Bar Association and the Nashville Pro Bono Program. Issues that generally arise after a natural disaster, and for which an attorney can provide help, include: Securing government benefits available to disaster victims, Filing life, medical and property insurance claims, Dealing with home repair contracts and contractors, Replacing missing or destroyed wills and other legal documents, Dealing with consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures, Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems, Counseling on landlord/tenant problems
* Twitter. Sometimes information hits Twitter before it has the chance to hit the news. For volunteer and flood-related tweets, we’re using the hashtag #NashvilleFlood. If you don’t already, you can follow Nashvillest @nashvillest. They are working hard to keep you current.
HT: A huge thank you to Christy Frink & Morgan Levy at Nashvillest.
* Tennessean Special Report: Nashville Flood and online resource guide.
* Contractor Verification – The Department of Commerce and Insurance is encouraging homeowners to verify the licensure of contractors they hire to repair their homes by using verify.tn.gov.
* Wiki – A Tennessee Floods of Spring 2010 “Crisis Wiki” has been created.