Metro Nashville Provides Storm Recovery Assistance To Tennessee Counties
Local Resources Assist With Recovery Efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2008
CONTACT: AMANDA SLUSS
615.880.2962 (OFFICE)
615.533.0978 (CELL)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management, in cooperation with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, is coordinating with Metro government agencies and area volunteer groups to provide much needed local resources to Tennessee counties devastated by Tuesday’s deadly storm system.
“Metro Nashville definitely dodged the wrath of severe weather last night, sustaining only minor damage countywide,” Acting OEM Director Stephen Halford said. “Our number one priority at this time is to provide local government resources, non-profit assistance and volunteers to neighboring communities in need.”
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and United Way-211 are actively providing disaster assistance to storm victims. The Community Foundation is accepting non-designated cash donations that will be distributed to those in need through grants to Middle Tennessee non-profit agencies. United Way-211 is processing disaster assistance requests and donation referral calls for the mid-state region. Donations most needed following a natural disaster include money, food and blood. United Way-211 can direct citizens wishing to make donations to the appropriate agencies.
Hands On Nashville has contacted an experienced volunteer group for possible storm clean up assistance and other needs that come into the state Emergency Operations Center. The Medical Reserve Corps (joint operation between OEM and Vanderbilt University Medical Center) has deployed medical and mental health personnel to assist victims in Macon County. The MRC has nurses stationed at two area shelters and a local church has been designated as a mental health assistance resource center for the Nashville Red Cross.
At the request of Macon County 911, Metro Nashville’s Emergency Communications Center has deployed a response team of five dispatchers to staff the county’s emergency call taking and dispatching operation. They will be joined E911 dispatchers from Loudon, Blount and Washington counties.
Metro Public Works sent front end loaders with grapple buckets and equipment operators to Sumner County overnight to assist with heavy debris removal. This work is ongoing at this time. OEM is providing portable generators to the City of Hartsville as an alternate power source for the water treatment and pumping systems.
In addition to these non-profit organizations, the Davidson County VOAD organization (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) in conjunction with Hands on Nashville, is polling its member organization’s resource availability in order to match requests for assistance coming into the state.
The Tennessee Hotel/Motel Association has secured a block of 100 rooms for Red Cross volunteers and personnel at the Nashville Sheraton Downtown for the next two weeks through the Together We Prepare program.
For more information about donations or volunteer opportunities:
Disaster assistance and referrals: United Way - 211
Cash donations: The Community Foundation- 615-321-4939
Donating blood or volunteer opportunities: Nashville Red Cross – 615-250-4300
Volunteer opportunities: Hands on Nashville- Meredith Hansel at 615-298-1108
ext. 112