Remembering The Nashville Flood: Thirteen Years Later

It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but 13 years ago today, Nashville experienced the worst flooding in the city and state's history. Portions of downtown, including L.P. Field, were underwater.

Larry McCormack / The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC

NASHVILLE - Two days of record-shattering rainfall left a portion of downtown Nashville and other parts of Middle Tennessee underwater on this date in 2010. It was something I'd never seen before nor wish to witness again.  

A total of 18 people in Middle Tennessee and 27 across Tennessee and Kentucky died due to the massive flooding. The region received 9.09 inches of rain in 24 hours on May 1st, shattering the previous mark of 6.68 inches in 1979.  

As the rain continued to fall into May 2cd, the already saturated ground and the Cumberland River's banks could not contain the rising waters. Over these two days, a new record total of 13.57 inches of rain fell.

The damage to Middle Tennessee exceeded $2 billion, including damage to the then-named L.P. Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.         

A flooded playing surface inside L.P. Field / The Tennessean

In all, the rising water from the Cumberland rose 50 feet in 36 hours, sending water through the lower-lying areas of downtown, while rivers, streams, and lakes throughout the rest of the region raced into the surrounding cities and towns.  

Firefighters rescue stranded residents in Franklin, Tn / Mandy Lunn, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The Tennesse newspaper headline that day read, "OVERWHELMED."

Larry McCormack / The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC

As for me personally, I was busy moving furniture from the lower level of the house, as the water poured in through the walls, as the walls could no longer hold the rising water from underground.  

Not the best picture of me.  / Photo By: Greg Arias

Now 13 years later, as I and many others who lived through those two days remember, the city and our area have recovered and have gone on to deal with other natural disasters that left a different kind of destruction in their wake.  

This is a strong and resilient community in Middle Tennessee, and while we hope never to have to deal with the wrath of Mother Nature again, the odds aren't in our favor, but let's hope that it's a long time before we have to deal with it again. 

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