Metro to Update Public on Flood-Preparation Projects

Metro officials will soon detail some ways to make Nashville more ready in case of another big flood. They’ll give a progress update at three public meetings set for later this month.

Metro started work a year ago on what it calls a “unified” response to the deadly torrents of May, 2010. That’s when more than a foot of rain fell on Nashville; 21 people died in Tennessee – about half in Davidson County, which also suffered more than $2 billion worth of property damage.

Now officials expect to recommend safeguards in case of a similar event. At a series of meetings last year officials talked about everything from building floodwalls and a warning system to buying out houses in the floodplain.

So far they’ve bought out more than a hundred homes, and the National Weather Service is looking to add more flood gauges along area creeks and rivers.

Schedule of Planned Meetings:

Feb. 16, 6 to 7 p.m.
McGavock High School cafeteria
3150 McGavock Pike
Nashville, TN 37214

Feb. 23, 6 to 7 p.m.
Bellevue Community Center
656 Colice Jeanne Road
Nashville, TN 37221

Feb. 28, 6 to 7 p.m.
Looby Community Center
2301 Metro Center Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37228

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WEB ADD:

In considering options from levees and floodwalls to widening channels to green spaces that can double as manmade holding ponds, Sonia Harvat, the PIO for Metro Water, says one of the challenges planners face is balancing priority in different locations against potential expense.

“One of the reasons we’re putting this (plan) together is to have projects ready when federal funding becomes available… We want to make sure the projects are designed so that they would qualify.”

Harvat says the recommendations presented at this month’s meetings won’t be complete, in part because planners may have to tweak their proposals as final studies of sites emerge.

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