How Nashville prepares for another big flood will hinge on cost. Last night Metro officials unveiled a shortlist of possibilities they’ve been compiling since the deadly flood of 2010, as a step toward trying to get federal funds.
Metro Water’s Sonia Harvat speaks before about two-dozen people Monday night at a community meeting at McGavock High School. WPLN/Daniel Potter
The potential projects include a removable six-foot floodwall along the Cumberland River near First Avenue downtown, which could cost tens of millions. Several neighborhoods hit by the flood could also see more home buyouts – or, for many others in places where damage wasn’t as bad, home elevation is a possibility.
Consultant Shannon Lambert explains that means using jacks to raise a house a few feet above its current foundation.
“A home that might have three steps to get into might end up with twelve steps to get into, in order to raise it up above the base flood elevation.”
About two-dozen people turned out last night for a public meeting as Metro wraps up its initial overview. The next step will be studying the feasibility of specific projects, using money from both Metro and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Lambert says getting from there to funding and design to construction of some of the projects could take several more years.
LINKS:
– Metro’s new early-warning system
– Unified Flood Preparedness Plan (includes information on upcoming public meetings)
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