Tennessee Floods and the Emotion of Disaster
Nashville is a mess. My wife asked me to turn on the news and we watched a tractor trailer floating down a street. "Oh, my God!" was my response as I watched.
Traveling from one disaster to another and talking with those involved and living through the impact is difficult. Most people need reassurance that others know, understand and care. Others are understandably frustrated and angry with the entire situation. When talking with seasoned catastrophe adjusters, virtually all have stories of just staying, sitting and holding hands with our brothers and sisters as they sob and then get to the point of being able to function. All victims eventually want to know where they stand and what they can do to recover.
I suggest that all take a minute to reflect upon your emotions as you contemplate a video from the Great Nashville Flood of 2010:
Part of the reason insurance exists is to help soften this emotional toll through a prearranged financial rescue. The Tennessee Insurance Litigation Blog had a gallows humorous post, Anybody Got an Ark? before the full impact of the water became apparent:
Not much legal analysis here but . . . it is coming an absolute flood in West TN. We've got about 6 inches of rain in the past few hours, with that much or more coming over the next 24 hours. I may have to call in the cavalry and get Chip Merlin and company to help with all the water/wind claims. Stay dry!
I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all a bad dream.
Chip,
Thank you for your service and exposing a major catastrophe. 90% of all businesses and homeowners are without flood insurance. 23 people died, thousands homeless. I'm very proud of Nashville, No lootings, no Fires, no shootings, no whining..We were ignored by the national media and the President and the damages will exceed 2 billion dollars..
How many times have we read flash flooding watch or warnings in our lifetime?? We carry on with our business. We had 14 inches of rain in 24 hours, the high water rushed into areas that have never flooded, Cars stopped on the interstate as a small stream ran across and then it was feet and quickly it came from all directions until the water was over the vehicles. We lost many elderly people from this tragedy.
The Sun is up and thousands of Volunteers are hitting the streets helping their neighbors..Nashville is an iconic city, and will prevail but thousands have lost everything. They will need help from all Americans. The streams and river winds through Nashville, the flood has devasted the rich, the middle class and the very poor. I meet with Faith Hill's lead guitarist Thursday night and the flood damaged 18 of his guitars and Vince Gill called him and he had his fathers guitar and his very first one stored in this soundstage along with 79 guitars..I would estimate the building's contents at 12 million. Most have insurance in there and they are planning many concerts to benifit the flood victims.
THANKS!!