Tuesday, May 4, 2010

pray for tennessee

"swamped" is putting it mildly.
we woke up sunday morning to a LAKE in the backyard,
5 feet of water in the crawlspace,
no electricity,
no land line,
no cell phone,
no internet,
and no way out.
my driveway.

my backyard .

my feet.


back entrance to my house.

my backyard.

my street.

my neighbors.

flooding across the street...

which swept away my neighbor's heat and air unit and left a gaping hole for the raging water to enter their house.

my neighbors back yard.

more neighbors.



garage damaged by water.


another back yard.

my grocery store parking lot.


jeep for sale...cheap.

empty shelves and no gasoline.

the sun is out today and we FINALLY have electricity and cable. which means contact with the outside world! we have been totally disconnected, except for blackberry rumors. my neighborhood, being surrounded by a flooded river has been an island. until today, with one traffic jammed way out.... we are now

a peninsula. woo hoo.

the clean up and damage assessment has begun.

a water logged vehicle.

and home...


observe how high the water level was on this house.

we have just begun to recede.
my home will be fine, some of my neighbors are suffering.
my heart hurts.
there is an eeriness here. everyone is reeling and only the forboding sound of rescue helicopters can be heard.

lowering water levels will reveal the damage

and

loss

of home

and pet

and family.

please pray.

thank you.

29 comments:

KarenB said...

Oh Erin! I'm SO SORRY! Hugs and prayers are sent your way.

Karen

MT- a thing for... / [d]r said...

Erin,
I'm sorry to hear what you've gone through the last few days. My thoughts are with you. I'm glad you, your husband and neighbors are safe.
Keep optimistic that tomorrow will bring a better day. :)

- Maritza

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Oh NO Erin!!!
I didn't realise it was this bad.. I do hope everyone is safe.. yet it must be heartbreaking for some to lose precious possessions and damage to home.... your pics are amazing and tell quite the story... you know just seeing the supermarket shelves empty!!! is quite indicative of the situation... a rare site indeed...

Thinking of you and your neighbours and hoping things calm down soon.. xxx Julie

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Erin - I am so sorry. :( My heart goes out to everyone in the MidSouth/South that may have been affected by the terrible rain/storms that have ravished TN. I feel so fortunate that I stayed high and dry. Glad you did NOT venture this way for the weekend. :(
Glenda

Antique ART Garden said...

I am so sorry, I know you were very scared, will pray for you ! Gina

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Erin,
I am so sorry for this terrible trouble and will keep you and your neighbors in my prayers. I had no idea of the extent of this flooding in your area. I hope that things will be better soon.
Take care,
Laura

nat said...

praying for you and everyone else, erin! my heart is breaking for nashville! this is so devastating!

i was blessed not to have flooding on my block. i have a neighbor going to check on my house tomorrow to make sure there was no roof leakage.

be safe!

xo, nat

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh Erin, how horrible! I've been seeing pictures on the news, so I've already been praying for all of you. I know you must be so glad to get power back and to be able to venture out. I'm so glad you didn't get a lot of damage at your home, but I know the cleanup will take a long time, and people will carry the fear for a long time. I'll keep the people of TN in my prayers. laurie

oldgreymare said...

Oh Erin,

I'm sitting here just weeping, looking at these photographs. I've shopped in that Publix, recognize the types of neighborhoods. I'm shocked by how widespread the flooding is.

I wish I could rush over with warm food and help with cleanup and give lots of strong hugs. All I am able to do is keep all of you in my prayers and say how very sorry I am that this has happened to you and your community.

Having spent so much time there, I know the strength of character and sense of community that exists in Franklin, so I am sure you will all get through this but my heart hurts when I think of how difficult that path will be for you.

Blessings to Franklin and to you dear friend.

Suzan

A Perfect Gray said...

thank you for posting this. I know it was hard. thinking of you ALL...

joanne said...

Those photos are frightening and only tell part of the story. Praying for all of you...stay safe and dry as possible. Lord Almighty.

Donna said...

Erin,
I wondered about you! This is terrible for Tennessee and the Nashville area. My heart is broken for you. We have spent countless hours in Nashville at the Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ole Opry. I can't believe the pictures I have seen on the internet. We don't see much on the news here about Nashville and your area and that saddens me. I feel like you have been left out of the news due to the oil spill and the terrorist attempt in NY. My heart aches for you and all the people that have lost lives and homes damaged in TN.
Blessings,
Donna

Julie B. [Holland] said...

Erin , I posted on your last post I was concerned since I hadnt seen you post in a few days. I had spoken to my neice down there by you, you know , and was concerned for you. So sorry to see those pictures near to you and the rest of Tenn and to those lost or missing. Mother Nature can be beautiful , but so unexplainable. Sending you good vibes and best wishes.... Julie in HOlland :)

Pchełka said...

It's very sad...this is 21 st century..we are not save...high technology, a lots of money..beautifull houses, gardens...and one moment can change that into nothing.....thinking of you I'll pray..

Gerry Snape said...

Erin, I was just reading in our English Times paper about the situation, and then on my blogs the whole awful sight is there. I'm so sorry for this mess, and I pray that God will somehow bring some good out of this horror.I'll put it up on my facebook site and encourage people to pray. But at this point that seems such a trite thing as you are all suffering in it.If you have any more news we would be grateful for the information,god bless.

Atticmag said...

Erin, you are so brave. Your pictures left me here with tears. This is more than a community should have to bear. I am so sorry and hope that our good thoughts for a quick recovery will help. Jane F in NY

Razmataz said...

Oh my, how awful. I just can't imagine that.

Chania

nostalgia*gal said...

Morning! Just found your blog. I am down in Smyrna (just South of Nashville near the Hwy-24 flooding) My Internet service is back. Interesting how dependent we have become on the Internet and such.

Like you I am just heartsick about all of our damage. I so am happy to read your home will be fine.
I know and understand how your heart hurts so - for your neighbors. Sending prayers your way!
cindykay

maría cecilia said...

Dear Erin, so sorry to hear what you and your neighbours are going through... I´m sending love and good energy to all of you.
Here in Chile weather is getting cold and rains are coming and there are hundreds homeless families still, so sad...
Cariños,
Maria Cecilia

Lisa said...

Wonderful pictures, Erin! Such agony! It is heartbreaking to see. Glad to know you were spared from a lot of damage and loss. Thinking of you and your neighbors. One amazing and powerful thing to come out of this is the connection you make with each other.

Bonnie said...

Wow. I've been so out of the loop. I had no idea you guys got hit this hard. Erin, I'm so grateful your home was not effected by all that water. My heart goes out to you, your friends and neighbors! I'm so, so sorry. If there are any ways to help or donate money for any relief, please let me know. I hope that your life will return back to normal soon. I'll be praying for you all.

many hugs,
Bonnie

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Oh My heart breaks for you and your community. Sending you strength...so much strength!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
From the Old InkWell said...

Oh Erin, I haven't been reading blogs for a day or two and just saw your post. I'm so sorry for you and your neighbors. Can't believe you were out in that on Saturday. I was watching the interstates on the news and how the water rose up around people and I just couldn't believe my eyes and thought what in the world would I do if I were in that predicament. How are you doing now? I feel like I need to get out and help somebody, but am more needed close to home now. Please let me know if there's anything I can do other than physically be there. I can be reached by email. Blessings!

Dianne said...

I am so glad you have posted these photographs. The news media is not showing the damage as they are wrapped in the oil spill. My prayers are offered. What can we do? I live in N.C. This is hurricane country so I really understand your feelings. God bless you all. May the sun come out and stay for a while.

erin's art and gardens said...

thank you everyone...........i will be posting soon... as soon as i get my bearings...........thank you anderson cooper (cnn) for finally giving this devastating catastrophe some coverage!!

Julie B. [Holland] said...

I see some country concerts going to happen to help down there. Taylor Swift donated $500,000. Hope it gets in the right hands and the right places quickly. Good Luck Erin... thinking about you and all of Tenn.
Julie in Holland...

bikim said...

My god Erin! that was terrible! can't imagine the fear you all felt! hope everything is ok and back to normal or kind of! i'll think of you all on my prayers!
have a happy wk,
Rosa

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. Our small community was hit by a flash flood, in the middle of the night last Aug. and we are still recovering. I will be praying for God to give you and your community stenght. I will get better.