The National Weather Service has issued a FLOOD WARNING for the Cumberland River through tomorrow.  This after the National Weather Service expects the the river to reach flood stage by MIDNIGHT on Thursday night. 

Below is the official press release from Metro Nashville that was released this afternoon.

METRO’S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER RESUMES PARTIAL ACTIVATION THURSDAY  

Emergency Management Prepares for Potential Flooding of the Cumberland River

  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) today is continuing its partial activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to a river flood warning issued for the Cumberland River in Nashville. 

 

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the Cumberland River affecting Davidson County from late Thursday night until Friday morning.  Heavy rainfall amounts yesterday will cause river levels to rise along the Cumberland River as water is released from Old Hickory Dam throughout the day. 

 

Based on the National Weather Service river forecast of 40 feet (flood stage), which includes water release data for Old Hickory Dam provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Pennington Bend area near Opry Mills and downtown Nashville are at a high risk of flooding late tonight.  An updated river forecast and dam release information, including flood inundation maps, is anticipated after 3 p.m. today.  The extent of the potential flooding and the specific areas that will be most impacted should be known at that time.     

 

Metro agencies are making preparations now in anticipation of the Cumberland River reaching flood stage or beyond and will execute plans based on updated information received this afternoon.  Metro officials have been in communication with representatives from Gaylord Opryland, Opry Mills, downtown businesses and residents, and the Pennington Bend community regarding flood risks and possible evacuation requests.  

 

Residents are encouraged to consider personal preparedness measures, including moving personal belongings and vehicles to higher ground. Avoid flooded areas and never drive through flooded roadways as depth of water may be too great to pass.

 

Preparations Underway

 

• The Davidson County Sheriff’s Department and Hands On Nashville have been contacted to begin preparing and staging sandbags for potential use. Individuals who want to volunteer should contact Hands On Nashville at www.hon.org.

 

• Metro Nashville Police Department will concentrate flood patrols in the Pennington Bend area, downtown and other areas that run along the Cumberland River. The 24/7 flood patrols that have been ongoing since May in flood-prone areas of Davidson County will also continue. Officers will communicate updated information to residents as it becomes available, including going door-to-door if needed.

 

• Metro Police is also preparing evacuation plans for areas that might be impacted. Whether or not evacuations will be needed will be determined after 3 p.m. when updated information is received from the National Weather Service and Army Corps of Engineers. 

 

• Metro officials are working with the Nashville Red Cross to identify potential locations for emergency shelters in the event of an evacuation. 

 

• Metro Parks and Recreation will be advised to close the Shelby Bottoms park and greenway area.         

 

• MTA is developing contingency plans to move buses to higher ground later tonight as needed. 

 

• Nashville Electric Service only has 44 customers without power at this time.

 

• Nashville Fire Department swift water rescue teams and OEM volunteers remain on standby.

 

• Metro’s Community Hotline is open and available for citizens to call with questions or concerns.  The hotline number is (615) 862-8574.

 

Updated information will be released from the Emergency Operations Center as it becomes available.

Below is a list of danger zones at different flood levels:

• At 25.0 feet, the Riverfront areas on both sides of the river begin to be inundated in downtown Nashville.

• At 30.0 feet, the first grassy area of the Riverfront landing, and the access point on the east side of the river near LP Field are inundated.

• At 34.0 feet, water reaches the second grassy area of the Riverfront landing and covers most of the access area on the east side of the river near LP Field. In East Nashville, water reaches dirt trails in the Shelby Bottoms Park area.

• At 38.0 feet, water begins to inundate the third grassy area of the Riverfront landing and paved walking and biking trails in the Shelby Bottoms area.

• At 38.5 feet, water reaches several low lying areas along the Cumberland River in and around the Metro area. The Pennington Bend area near Opry Mills begins to flood.

• At 39.0 feet, water overflows the river bank along Pennington Bend near Opry Mills and approaches the landing at Riverfront Park.

• At 40.0 feet, flooding begins along the river in and around the Nashville metropolitan area. Flood waters approach some industrial areas downtown and the Cumberland Field Airport.

• At 42.0 feet, water reaches the fourth grassy area of the Riverfront landing in downtown Nashville.

Today Mayor Karl Dean and Metro Government officials from Codes and Information Technology Services announce an expanded online code permit system created to meet the needs of thousands of homeowners who have been affected by the recent flood. Now owners of flood-damaged one and two-family residential properties located in Davidson County may apply for, receive and print their flood-repair permits online, without having to visit the Codes Department. Affected property owners can learn more and apply online via a link at http://www.nashville.gov/flood.

The recent flood damaged approximately 11,680 Nashville properties, which are now in need of repair. A building permit and building inspections are required for flood damage repairs. Initially, this new online feature is available to homeowners affected by the flood whose properties are not in the floodplain, and those in the floodplain whose properties have been assessed by a Metro Water Services’ contractor and their homes were found to have damage worth less than 40 percent of their assessed value. As assessments by Metro Water Services continue, additional homes will be added to the online permit system.

Approximately 5,850 properties, or 50 percent of the total affected by the flood, are located outside of the 100-year floodplain. Owners of these properties are immediately eligible to receive a building permit and are encouraged to move forward with repairs. An easy-to-understand flyer about who is eligible for a building permit is available for download online at http://www.nashville.gov/flood/docs/Building_Permit_Flyer.pdf.

This new online process for homeowners was achieved through custom modification of Metro’s existing computer application (Accela Inc’s KIVA), which the Codes Department uses daily to issue permits and process inspections. The online KIVA option is already being used by contractors to apply for permits, saving them visits to the Codes Department. Currently, 70 percent of contractor permits are issued in this manner.

In a typical year, the Department of Codes and Building Safety issues approximately 10,000 building permits as well as approximately 40,000 trade permits associated with the installation of electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems.  All the information about the properties within Davidson County and buildings, which have been constructed in Nashville, is maintained through databases shared by several Metro departments including the Tax Assessor and Trustee.

The Codes Department has also enhanced its Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone system, which is available to all permit holders when requesting codes inspections. Inspection requests can be made from any touch-tone phone from 6 a.m. through 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Instructions for accessing the IVR system are issued with each online permit.

Metro has closed a section of Granny White Pike about half a mile north of Old Hickory Boulevard after the roadway caved in around a culvert, a result of this month's floods.

Metro Public Works discovered the problem today and immediately closed one lane to traffic, the city said in a news release. Crews are preparing to begin work to replace a 60-inch diameter metal pipe with concrete pipe.

The road will be closed until at least sometime Friday evening, Public Works said. A detour route will be set up, but motorists are advised to use an alternate route. (source: The Tennessean)