Finding Blessings In Disguise

Fifteen inches of rain falling into several major watersheds in two short days has led to historic, widespread flooding for much of Middle and West Tennessee.  Tens of thousands of homeowners ended up with their homes partially or completely underwater and they have no flood insurance because their neighborhoods were not in FEMA's flood zones and insurance was not available to them.  Historic tourist venues such as Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ole Opry are flooded.  Many people lost their lives and the death toll is expected to rise as the waters continue to recede back into the Cumberland River. The cost of this disaster will reach into the billions before it is all said and done and the national media has largely ignored the story of what has happened here. Citizens of the Volunteer State have stepped up in so many ways that the national media should put the spotlight on us.  There have been countless reports of neighbor helping neighbor, stranger helping strange...

It's been a while since I've posted and this is certainly something worthy to write about.  I came home from a conference along the Alabama coast where they were awaiting the oil slick to come ashore to find my hometown and the area around us flooded.  I laughed along the drive home as I considered the fact that I was traveling along a hurricane evacuation route on my way to a flood zone. Nashville, Franklin, Clarksville, and so many other towns in Middle and West Tennessee have suffered a devastating flood that no one could have predicted.  Nearly 15 inches of rain fell on the area in two short days, filling rivers and creeks beyond their capacity.  States of emergency have been declared in many counties and we have been ordered to use water only for drinking, cooking, and bathing.  There are homes completely submerged in areas not classified by FEMA as flood zones and the homeowners do not have flood insurance.  The Cumberland River is out of its banks ...