There were very few people down in floodland and very little activity. I don’t know if it was Sunday, mothers day, or phase I is over. Most everybody has pulled out the contents and stripped the houses four feet up the wall. I guess they were all racing to get the wet items out of the house so it can dry. Up to now very little money has been needed to be spent. Tearing down a house really only takes a few people and a few days, which is very little cost. Its putting it back together thats the big unknown. This neighborhood is working middle class that is not rich nor poor. They have professional jobs, but mortgages and not that much disposable money, so coming up with $75K to put your house back together is going to be a challenge.
The Red Cross had to spend two hours talking an older fellow into letting people help him strip his house. Apparently he was just sitting in his house. I heard of a local teacher at her house in ball of tears. The sense of volunteerism was still at a high, but I wonder how long this will last.
We spent the day helping at the burger and supply tent. The Harpeth Valley Elementary and Harpeth Heights Babtist church purchased supplies of water, food, trash bags, bleach, etc etc. Homeowners and helpers trickled in for hamburgers, hotdogs and some good support of their neighbors who are in the same situation. Everybody had the same story, “we were told we didn’t need flood insurance”.
This is what FEMA water looks like, its a six pack from Anhauser Busch, but no hops, just water. Cases of these six packs are stacked up everywhere on corners and around mail boxes.
Two Red Cross guys showed up and dished up steaming hot BBQ dinners. We got three dinners and gave them to a tired homeowner.
We gave these meals away in about two minutes to a weary homeowner who had a small crowd to feed.