2010 Tennessee floods
Encyclopedia
The May 2010 Tennessee floods were 1000-year flood
s in Middle
Tennessee
, West Tennessee
, south-central and western Kentucky
and northern Mississippi
as the result of torrential rains on May 1 and 2, 2010. Floods from these rains affected the area for several days afterwards, resulting in a number of deaths and widespread property damage.
Two-day rain totals in some areas were greater than 19 inches (48.3 cm). The Cumberland River
crested at 51.86 feet (15.8 m) in Nashville
, a level not seen since 1937, which was before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control measures were in place. All-time record crests were observed on the Cumberland River at Clarksville
, the Duck River
at Centerville
and Hurricane Mills
, the Buffalo River
at Lobelville
, the Harpeth River
at Kingston Springs
and Bellevue
, and the Red River at Port Royal
.
Several rainfall records in the Nashville area were broken during the rain event. 13.57 inches (34.5 cm) fell during the two-day period of May 1–2, doubling the record of 6.68 inches (17 cm) set in September 1979 during the passage of the remnants of Hurricane Frederic
. On May 2 alone, 7.25 inches (18.4 cm) of rain fell, including 7.2 inches (18.3 cm) during a 12-hour period and 5.57 inches (14.1 cm) in a 6-hour period, eclipsing records set on September 13, 1979. The event also set a record for wettest May on record, surpassing the record set in May 1983 with 11.84 inches (30.1 cm).
Heavy rain also affected large portions of Arkansas
, northern Mississippi and southern Kentucky. In Arkansas, over 5 inches (12.7 cm) fell in the Little Rock
area, up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) in West Memphis
and over 10 inches (25.4 cm) in northeastern Arkansas closer to the Mississippi River
. Similar amounts were recorded across western and southern Kentucky where over 7 inches (17.8 cm) fell in the Hopkinsville
area and up to 4 inches (10.2 cm) across the Missouri Bootheel. In addition to the heavy rain, moist air and ample instability contributed to the generation of multiple tornadoes affecting the same areas, which killed five persons: four in Mississippi during the early hours of May 2, and one in Arkansas during the evening of April 30.
, which includes Nashville. Of the ten dead in Davidson County, "four victims were found in their homes, two were in cars and four were outdoors."
Floods killed six people in northern Mississippi, and four deaths were reported in Kentucky.
Mississippi deaths occurred in the following counties:
damaged the Grand Ole Opry House
, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
, Opry Mills Mall, Bridgestone Arena (home to NHL
team Nashville Predators
), and LP Field
(home to NFL
team Tennessee Titans
) with several feet of water. Grand Ole Opry performances were moved to other venues in the Nashville area, with the Ryman Auditorium
serving as the primary venue when it is available. Other venues hosting the Opry include the War Memorial Auditorium
, TPAC
's Andrew Jackson Hall, Nashville Municipal Auditorium
, Lipscomb University's Allen Arena
and the Two Rivers Baptist Church. Both the Ryman and War Memorial Auditoriums were previous homes to the Opry. None of these facilities were affected by the floods.
The basement flooded in Schermerhorn Symphony Center
, causing the destruction of two Steinway
grand concert pianos and one organ valued at .
The common areas of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel were destroyed, and parts of the hotel were under 10 feet (3 m) of water at the peak of the floods.
Flooding was reported in a mechanical room of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
, but the exhibits were not damaged.
The playing field, ground level facilities (such as locker rooms), and service entrance of LP Field
were under water.
40 feet (12.2 m) of water filled the underground parking garage of The Pinnacle at Symphony Place
, a 417 feet (127.1 m) tower in downtown that opened in February 2010, less than three months before the flood. Electric and elevator systems housed in the garage were damaged.
In Belle Meade
, an upscale neighborhood of Nashville, the ground floor of St. George's Episcopal Church was flooded.
In the early morning of May 4, flooding at a Nashville Electric Service
substation caused power to go out in the center of the city. Among the buildings that lost electricity was the 617 feet (188.1 m) AT&T Building, the tallest building in Tennessee. Power was not expected to be restored until Friday, May 7.
Nashville/Davidson County was declared a Federal Disaster Area on May 4.
At least 30 counties in Tennessee were declared major disaster areas by the federal government, with 52 applying to receive this status. This translates to about 31% of Tennessee being designated a major disaster area.
According to Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
, damage estimates in Nashville totalled $1.5 billion not including damage to roads and bridges or public buildings, as well as contents inside buildings and residences.
Almost all schools in the area were closed including Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
, some for a week or more.
The River Fund was created with proceeds from Garth Brooks' December 2010 concerts for flood relief and serves the 52 flood-affected counties in Tennessee.
On June 22, 2010, a benefit concert called "Nashville Rising" was held at Bridgestone Area to raise money for Middle Tennessee flood relief efforts. The concert raised over $2.2 million for flood relief efforts.
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s in Middle
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to state law as the 41 counties in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee....
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, West Tennessee
West Tennessee
West Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee. Of the three, it is the one that is most sharply defined geographically. Its boundaries are the Mississippi River on the west and the Tennessee River on the east...
, south-central and western Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and northern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
as the result of torrential rains on May 1 and 2, 2010. Floods from these rains affected the area for several days afterwards, resulting in a number of deaths and widespread property damage.
Two-day rain totals in some areas were greater than 19 inches (48.3 cm). The Cumberland River
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
crested at 51.86 feet (15.8 m) in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, a level not seen since 1937, which was before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control measures were in place. All-time record crests were observed on the Cumberland River at Clarksville
Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and the fifth largest city in the state. The population was 132,929 in 2010 United States Census...
, the Duck River
Duck River (Tennessee)
The Duck River, long, is the longest river located entirely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. Free flowing for most of its length, the Duck River is home to over 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 species of fish, making it one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America.The...
at Centerville
Centerville, Tennessee
Centerville is a town in Hickman County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,793 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hickman County. It is probably best known for being the hometown of country comedian Minnie Pearl...
and Hurricane Mills
Hurricane Mills, Tennessee
Hurricane Mills is an unincorporated community in Humphreys County, Tennessee, United States. It is the home of Loretta Lynn's ranch, which serves as the center of the community. While residential in nature, there are some businesses in the area, several of which are located in the "downtown" area...
, the Buffalo River
Buffalo River (Tennessee)
The Buffalo River is the longest unimpounded river in Middle Tennessee in the United States, flowing through the southern and western portions of that region. It is the largest tributary of the Duck River and is used for canoeing, especially in its middle section...
at Lobelville
Lobelville, Tennessee
Lobelville is a city in Perry County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 915 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lobelville is located at ....
, the Harpeth River
Harpeth River
The Harpeth River, long, is one of the major streams of north-central Middle Tennessee and one of the major tributaries of the Cumberland River...
at Kingston Springs
Kingston Springs, Tennessee
Kingston Springs is a town in Cheatham County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,773 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kingston Springs is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
and Bellevue
Bellevue, Tennessee
Bellevue is a neighborhood of Nashville, located roughly 13 miles southwest of the downtown area via I-40. It is incorporated as part of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
, and the Red River at Port Royal
Port Royal, Tennessee
Port Royal is a historic unincorporated community on the border of Montgomery and Robertson counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is home to Port Royal State Park. It is located at the confluence of the Red River and Sulphur Fork Creek.-History:...
.
Meteorology
According to the Memphis Office of the National Weather Service:
A significant weather system brought very heavy rain and severe thunderstorms from Saturday, May 1 through Sunday morning, May 2. A stalled frontal boundary coupled with very moist air streaming northward from the Gulf set the stage for repeated rounds of heavy rainfall. Many locations along the I-40 corridor across western and middle Tennessee reported in excess of 10 to 15 inches, with some locations receiving up to 20 inches according to Doppler radar estimates.
Several rainfall records in the Nashville area were broken during the rain event. 13.57 inches (34.5 cm) fell during the two-day period of May 1–2, doubling the record of 6.68 inches (17 cm) set in September 1979 during the passage of the remnants of Hurricane Frederic
Hurricane Frederic
Hurricane Frederic was the sixth tropical cyclone, third hurricane and second major hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. Frederic was the costliest hurricane to ever hit the U.S. Gulf Coast at that particular time...
. On May 2 alone, 7.25 inches (18.4 cm) of rain fell, including 7.2 inches (18.3 cm) during a 12-hour period and 5.57 inches (14.1 cm) in a 6-hour period, eclipsing records set on September 13, 1979. The event also set a record for wettest May on record, surpassing the record set in May 1983 with 11.84 inches (30.1 cm).
Heavy rain also affected large portions of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, northern Mississippi and southern Kentucky. In Arkansas, over 5 inches (12.7 cm) fell in the Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
area, up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) in West Memphis
West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 27,666 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 28,181 in 2005, and 31,329 in 2011 ranking it as the state's 11th largest city, behind Hot Springs...
and over 10 inches (25.4 cm) in northeastern Arkansas closer to the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Similar amounts were recorded across western and southern Kentucky where over 7 inches (17.8 cm) fell in the Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :...
area and up to 4 inches (10.2 cm) across the Missouri Bootheel. In addition to the heavy rain, moist air and ample instability contributed to the generation of multiple tornadoes affecting the same areas, which killed five persons: four in Mississippi during the early hours of May 2, and one in Arkansas during the evening of April 30.
Casualties
Twenty-one deaths were recorded in Tennessee, including ten in Davidson CountyDavidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
, which includes Nashville. Of the ten dead in Davidson County, "four victims were found in their homes, two were in cars and four were outdoors."
Floods killed six people in northern Mississippi, and four deaths were reported in Kentucky.
Mississippi deaths occurred in the following counties:
- Alcorn CountyAlcorn County, MississippiThere were 14,224 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had...
– one dead - Benton CountyBenton County, Mississippi-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 8,026 people, 2,999 households and 2,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 per square mile . There were 3,456 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
– two dead - Lafayette CountyLafayette County, Mississippi-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,744 people, 14,373 households, and 8,321 families residing in the county. The population density was 61 people per square mile . There were 16,587 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
– one dead - Lee CountyLee County, Mississippi-National protected areas:* Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site* Natchez Trace Parkway * Tupelo National Battlefield-History:On September 20, 1816, General Andrew Jackson, David Meriwether, and the Chickasaw Nation signed the Treaty of Chickasaw Council House in Lee County.Lee County was...
– one dead in hydroplaning accident on U.S. Route 45U.S. Route 45U.S. Route 45 is a north–south United States highway. US 45 is a border-to-border route, from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. A sign at the highway's northern terminus notes the total distance as ....
in TupeloTupelo, MississippiTupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211... - Union CountyUnion County, Mississippi-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 25,362 people, 9,786 households, and 7,241 families residing in the county. The population density was 61 people per square mile . There were 10,693 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
– one dead in hydroplaning accident on Mississippi Route 78
Damage
Flooding on the Cumberland RiverCumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
damaged the Grand Ole Opry House
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, formerly known as Opryland Hotel, is a large hotel and convention center located in Nashville, Tennessee and owned by Gaylord Hotels, a division of Gaylord Entertainment Company...
, Opry Mills Mall, Bridgestone Arena (home to NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
team Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
), and LP Field
LP Field
LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
(home to NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
team Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
) with several feet of water. Grand Ole Opry performances were moved to other venues in the Nashville area, with the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
serving as the primary venue when it is available. Other venues hosting the Opry include the War Memorial Auditorium
War Memorial Auditorium
The War Memorial Auditorium is a 1,661-seat performance hall located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is located across the street from, and is governed by, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and is also adjacent to the Tennessee State Capitol.- History :...
, TPAC
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, or TPAC, is located in the James K. Polk Cultural Center at 505 Deaderick Street in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, occupying an entire city block between 5th and 6th Avenues North and Deaderick and Union Streets. Also housing the Tennessee State Museum, the...
's Andrew Jackson Hall, Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
The Nashville Municipal Auditorium is an indoor sports and concert venue in Nashville, Tennessee...
, Lipscomb University's Allen Arena
Allen Arena
Allen Arena is an indoor arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. The arena was named in honor of James C. and Linda Allen, the facility's primary benefactors. James Allen is a member of the board of trustees for the university and worked for the university at one time...
and the Two Rivers Baptist Church. Both the Ryman and War Memorial Auditoriums were previous homes to the Opry. None of these facilities were affected by the floods.
The basement flooded in Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a symphony center in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Ground was broken for construction on December 3, 2003. The center formally opened on September 9, 2006, with a gala concert conducted by Leonard Slatkin and broadcast by PBS affiliates throughout the state...
, causing the destruction of two Steinway
Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
grand concert pianos and one organ valued at .
The common areas of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel were destroyed, and parts of the hotel were under 10 feet (3 m) of water at the peak of the floods.
Flooding was reported in a mechanical room of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum identifies and preserves the evolving history and traditions of country music and educates its audiences...
, but the exhibits were not damaged.
The playing field, ground level facilities (such as locker rooms), and service entrance of LP Field
LP Field
LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
were under water.
40 feet (12.2 m) of water filled the underground parking garage of The Pinnacle at Symphony Place
The Pinnacle at Symphony Place
The Pinnacle at Symphony Place is a 29 story, office and retail skyscraper located in Nashville, Tennessee, in the city's SoBro district. Located adjacent to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the building officially opened on February 10, 2010...
, a 417 feet (127.1 m) tower in downtown that opened in February 2010, less than three months before the flood. Electric and elevator systems housed in the garage were damaged.
In Belle Meade
Belle Meade, Tennessee
Belle Meade is a city in Davidson County, Tennessee, United States, within Nashville.-Overview:In 1963, it was absorbed into the metropolitan government of Nashville-Davidson County, however, it retains its independent city status, and its residents pay taxes both to the Metro government and to the...
, an upscale neighborhood of Nashville, the ground floor of St. George's Episcopal Church was flooded.
In the early morning of May 4, flooding at a Nashville Electric Service
Nashville Electric Service
Nashville Electric Service is among the twelve largest public electric utilities in the nation, currently employing a little over 1000 employees, and distributing energy to more than 350,000 customers in Middle Tennessee...
substation caused power to go out in the center of the city. Among the buildings that lost electricity was the 617 feet (188.1 m) AT&T Building, the tallest building in Tennessee. Power was not expected to be restored until Friday, May 7.
Nashville/Davidson County was declared a Federal Disaster Area on May 4.
At least 30 counties in Tennessee were declared major disaster areas by the federal government, with 52 applying to receive this status. This translates to about 31% of Tennessee being designated a major disaster area.
According to Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
Karl Dean
Karl Foster Dean is the sixth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. He was sworn in on September 21, 2007. From 1999 to January 9, 2007, Karl Dean served as Nashville's Director of Law under Mayor Bill Purcell. In 1990, 1994, and 1998, he was elected the...
, damage estimates in Nashville totalled $1.5 billion not including damage to roads and bridges or public buildings, as well as contents inside buildings and residences.
Almost all schools in the area were closed including Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, or MNPS, is a school district that serves the city of Nashville, Tennessee. Over 74,000 students are currently enrolled in the district's 71 elementary schools, 36 middle schools and 15 high schools.- Demographics :...
, some for a week or more.
Relief efforts
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has raised $14 million from individual donors and is being allocated in various grants. The Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund has received roughly $3.5 million, the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund around $5.5 million, the River Fund $5 million, and other relief efforts have received $234,000.The River Fund was created with proceeds from Garth Brooks' December 2010 concerts for flood relief and serves the 52 flood-affected counties in Tennessee.
On June 22, 2010, a benefit concert called "Nashville Rising" was held at Bridgestone Area to raise money for Middle Tennessee flood relief efforts. The concert raised over $2.2 million for flood relief efforts.