Environment

Nashville Tennessee Flooding: Death Toll Rises to 31: Photos

by Amy Judd | May 6, 2010 at 08:23 am

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The Storm and Flooding in Nashville Tennessee and Surrounding Areas Has Now Killed 31 People and the Clean-Up Continues

The storm and flooding in Tennessee has now been confirmed to have killed 31 people and the clean-up continues now that the flood waters have receded and the extent of the wreckage can be fully assessed.

21 people have died in Tennessee, including one from a tornado, six people have died in Mississippi and four in Kentucky, but officials say that the death toll could rise according to CNN.

President Obama has declared 10 Tennessee counties a disaster area. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen addressed the media in an press conference Thursday morning:

A lot of people who didn't have flood insurance, because they never thought floodwaters would ever come anywhere near their home, are really looking at a total loss of their home," Bredesen said. "It's very tough on a lot of people right now

Mayor Karl Dean said that the people are starting to rebuild their lives and that the city of Nashville is starting to get back up and working again. Government officials are returning to work on Thursday and students will return to school on Friday.

The Grand Ole Opry, which was severely damaged by flood waters, is expected to open before the end of the week, although it will require some substantial repairs.

The damage is expected to top about 1 billion dollars, but with no rain forecast from now until Monday, officials and residents are hoping that the flood waters will recede significantly and that they can get their lives back on track.