In Tuesday’s (5/3) Tennessean (Nashville), Michael Cass writes, “Brian Williams was visiting Bellevue’s River Plantation development on May 11 when a van pulled up in front of a flooded house and at least 15 people spilled out, offering to help the elderly woman who owned it. The woman was mystified. ‘I don’t know who you are,’ she told the volunteers. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ they replied. ‘We’re here to help. Tell us what to do.’ … The story ‘represents the spirit of service, and it represents each of you that have done your part to get our city back on its feet,’ Williams, the executive director of Hands On Nashville, told the crowd of about 400 people that gathered Monday at Schermerhorn Symphony Center to mark the first anniversary of the historic flood. More than 13 inches of rain fell in Nashville May 1-2, 2010. The flood killed 11 Davidson County residents and damaged an estimated $2 billion worth of property. But Nashville responded in force, with emergency responders making 1,400 water rescues and volunteers donating more than 330,000 hours of time through Hands On Nashville alone. … [Nashville] Symphony members, whose building sustained heavy flood damage last year, performed ‘Amazing Grace’ in tribute to flood victims who died, and actor Barry Scott read each name, accompanied by a tolling bell.”
Posted May 4, 2011
