Hip2Give: Help Tennessee Flood Victims!
*Did you know that at least 29 people have been killed in Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky by either floodwaters or tornadoes in the last few days?
*Did you know that water submerged parts of the Grand Ole Opry House, considered by many to be the heart of country music, and the nearby Opryland Hotel could be closed for up to six months?
*Did you know Governor Bredesen declared 52 of Tennessee’s 95 counties disaster areas after finishing an aerial tour from Nashville to western Tennessee during which he saw flooding so extensive that treetops looked like islands?
(Thanks to MSNBC and the Associated Press for the information and picture above)
Wow! I knew about the recent flooding in Tennessee; however, I had NO idea of the extent of the devastation. Please read an email from a Hip2Save reader who shares her thoughts on this disaster…
This isn’t a deal, but a request, no a plea. I don’t know if you know about the devastation in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, but we are in dire straits right now and there has been very little national media coverage about it. Haiti was worldwide news. Katrina was worldwide news, but no one is noticing that Nashville is going down. Obama has just declared Nashville a disaster area. Our downtown is partially underwater and out of power until Friday at the soonest. Our biggest Hotel/Convention center (that employs 3000+ people) is underwater and possibly down until CHRISTMAS! Shelters are at capacity and there are people unaccounted for.
If couponers ever come together to support their fellow man, Nashville would appreciate the help now. Cash donations can be made to the Red Cross, by calling or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to disaster relief.
If you’re local, CoC disaster relief could use help preparing boxes of food for flood victims. For more info call 833-0395. Donations of cleaning supplies, toiletries and clothing are being asked for and I KNOW we have those things in droves!
Facebook is a great place to find info to help out.
If you would like to help out, here are some things that you can do…
*Visit www.nashvilleredcross.org and click DONATE to make an online gift.
*Mail a check to the Nashville Area Red Cross: 2201 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203.
*Call (615) 250-4300 to make a donation by phone.
*Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation on your mobile phone.
*Visit Hands on Nashville to donate and/or view current volunteer needs.
*Donate food/money to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee (The most needed list includes canned vegetables, canned fruits, canned meats, canned/dried beans, rice, macaroni & cheese/pasta, and peanut butter).
*Make a donation via The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
*Make a donation to Brown Dog Foundation, Inc (this program offers up to $300 to stabilize and/or treat pets for injuries sustained as a result of the crisis).
*If you have been personally affected by the flood, check out Flood Help in Nashville for sources of free help and links to other resources.
(Thanks, IPreferPublix for sharing some donation tips and information about the disaster!)
Just think, I have OVER 20,000 email subscribers. If every one of those subscribers donates just $1, that’s over $20,000! We CAN make a difference!
Well crap, I hadn’t even heard anything about this! 🙁 Thanks for the post.
The devastation is unreal. We moved from the Nashville area last year. To see these landmarks that we visited on a regular basis submerged in water is heartbreaking. Friends have lost their houses, businesses, etc. We have friends that had to escape from their houses by swimming through the flood waters. Please, if you can, help this community. We are going back to volunteer and take supplies. Thanks Colin, for posting this on your site!
Where are you? Can people bring you supplies to take?
i watched the news and the pictures are just amazing……where did all this water come from? we do need to do what we can because you can not rely on the government for help anymore.
HI Kathie,
I live in one of the declaired desaster areas. We had rain litterally all day this past Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday. LITERALLY ALL DAY! Our area (including Nashville) is backed up along Cumberland River. With all of the rian the river overflowed. At Nashville it was up to 57.2(i believe) when flood limit was at 42. In my town, Clarksville, TN. ours was up to 62 with a flood level of 42. We truely do appreciate anything that anyone can do. My family and I have been stuck on our little “island” for four days now. Luckily we have water and electricity, plenty of food. But, some were not so lucky.
Thank you for posting this because I live here in Clarksville, Tn and am quite surprised at what little coverage this flood has gotten. Our entire downtown is under water and there are many people without food and water in our area. They are comparing the devastation with Katrina, yet you dont see CNN or any of the major news networks covering it. Thanks again and I hope everyone pitches in and helps those in need 🙂
we just pcs’ed from Clarksville and I am shocked at the Pictures i see online.. I keep you guys in my Prayers!!!
Hi,
I am in Clarksville too! Its cool to see how many people in my area know about Hip2Save! Awesome! We should get togeather sometime for a lemon water. 😉
Thank you, Collin, for posting this. I do not understand why Nashville & the surrounding areas are not being covered on the national news, it is a huge failing on the part of those who could help those in need by getting the word out. Thankfully, my family suffered only the smallest of losses, but there are many who are needing real help out there.
Knew there was a flood, but media totally underplayed this. When I saw the interior of the Opryland Hotel, which I have visited, my mouth fell open.
If you make a donation, don’t forget your company may match it – so look into that first! BOGO donations are great! 🙂
My husband works for Gibson Memphis. The Gibson Custom shop plant in Nashville is underwater as well. Just think of how many people are out of jobs right now. It was stated the area received 17″ of rain in 2 hours! I never thought a disaster would hit so close to home…how many of us do?? I wish I lived closer in order to donate some of my stockpile. I’ll do a small cash donation instead.
Thank you for posting this. We are quick to recognize our neighbors that need help (which is good), but sometimes we neglect our own.
Thank you, Collin!!! We just moved here last month and cannot believe the situation here. It is absolutely unreal. The fact that there was very little news coverage of it elsewhere outraged me!
I grew up around there and it breaks my heart to see so much of the city under water. I have many friends and some family in that area, thankfully they are all ok.
One of my good friends from college is a youth pastor at a local church in Nashville and they are collecting supplies as well. They are looking for things such as shampoo and soap–didn’t we just score some free stuff??? Anyway, here is the link to the church’s blog if you are looking for another way to help.
https://www.rollinghillscommunity.org/blog/
I live in middle TN myself. God took care of us though. Our home recieved no damage; however some friends of mine lost their trailor and all of their possessions. All they have is the clothes on their backs. I’m putting together baskets of shampoo…toothpaste…soap..and other things that I have in my stockpile to give to them. It’s not much, but it’s something. I guess I never really realized just how dangerous water could be. Thanks for posting this Collin. it’s a very sad thing what happend..and I can’t believe how many people lost their lives!
I live in Middle Tennessee as well and thank God our area was spared from major flooding. We should be very thankful for the TVA dam system that spared Tennessee from the full effect of flooding. I can’t imagine what it would have been like without the ability to minimize the damages with the dams.
So I guess your god didn’t take care of your friends. Shame, really. 😐
get a life, anon
It’s not that God doesn’t care or doesn’t take care of us. We live in a world plagued by sin and death and none of us is immune to it. On the contrary, I think it breaks His heart when things like this happen. But to stay on topic—I can’t understand why the news media is hardly covering this.
That wasn’t a very nice comment
Shame on you.
I don’t believe in God, but I would never say something like that. Miserable people.
I texted my donation too. My thoughts are with all those who are suffering right now.
Amanda, I would love to put together a box and send it to you, to help those in need.
I don’t have much either, but I have one basketfull of stuff that I’ve received because of Collin’s blog. Please email me and give me your address. Bless you.
suemorgan56@yahoo.com
Yep, I posted pics of the flooding as it encroached on our house this weekend. You can see the pics on my blog. https://thriftyniftypeeps.blogspot.com/p/tennessee-flooding-we-have-waterfront.html
With all of the giveaways you do for us Collin, the least we could do is give to some people in serious need. How sad! 🙁
Thanks for the post. The families will be in my prayers and I will be sending a check to Red Cross today.
What “local community chapter” should we select? You have to choose one when donating at nashvilleredcross.org
thanks to ipreferpublix for bringing this up and for collin for reposting. i think we are all just in shock down here. i’m in williamson county but only had leakage; my parents had 4 inches of water in their basement; but we were the lucky ones. yes, the red cross and the churches of Christ disaster relief efforts are the best places to send donations – money will go the furthest that way.
WOW !!! I had no idea it was that bad!
I live in KY and thankfully my particular area has had limited flooding. I did not realize there had been little national coverage since it’s on our news. Thankfully my friends there are all fine and have no damage. It is heartbreaking to see such a glorious historical city suffer such damage. Thanks for your efforts Collin and the many readers who will be helping.
I don’t know about national coverage much, but I watch the Weather Channel every morning and they HAVE been reporting about it…if it was not for that, I would not have known either. Glad to see how we can help. Thanks for the tips.
It is quite disturbing what makes the news these days. Thank you for being so supportive. Thanks to you I made a donation & I posted the link on FB.
These people are in my thoughts & prayers.
I completely agree about the news. Completely ridiculous what issues/subjects they choose to cover. Thanks Hip for posting about this! I love that you care about others and use your platform to help those in need.
I’m definitely going to give what I can. I used to live in TN and the people were so friendly and wonderful. I hope we have learned lots of lessons from New Orleans and we will get the people of Nashville and Tennessee back on their feet again sooner than we did after Katrina.
I live in Memphis, TN and many people here received tons of flood damage. Millington, TN is about 20 miles to our north and they had to evaucate people out on boats as well as evacuate an entire Naval Base that is still underwater. I was shocked as well that there has been little media coverage of this event.
Here are some pictures of the city: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Millington-Flooded/122195431130913?ref=ts
Thank you so much, Collin, for thinking of us here in TN!! I live in Franklin – just about 15 minutes outside of Nashville – and it is complete and utter devastation here. Words can’t describe it – it is so much worse than what it looks like on TV, if you can imagine! So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Our good friend lost his sister in this flood….very tragic.
I too can not understand why this is not being noticed! There is hardly any media attention focused on this!
Does anyone know of any place to donate with paypal? I looked at a couple Collin listed, but it only listed credit cards as an option. Thanks!
The Brown Dog Foundation takes paypal, I just did it.
I just moved up north but we still own my home in Nashville. My friends tell me it is taking them about 2 and a half hours to get to work. I used to work by the airport at ITT Tech and they said that not only is the Opry Land Hotel flooded but the Opry Mills Mall is too. This is going to put a huge strain on my home town. There is talk of the country music singers getting together to raise money for this tragedy. It doesn’t seem to be happening soon enough though. Please continue to keep Nashville in your prayers.
Hi Michelle, Some singers are doing a Marathon tonight at 7. Its on
Chanel 4 here in Tennessee. Not sure what chanel elsewhere.
Hi there! I’m from Clarksville and it is crazy here right now. There are a lot of people who lost everything and still most of the areas are flooded, out of power and water. Schools are closed, we are on curfew – so I will go upstairs now and put some things like toothpaste, body wash, hygienic articles etc. together and donate them. Because of lots of hip2save deals I’m able to do this, so thank you Collin, you helped the Clarksville flood victims without even knowing it. 😉
Thank you for posting this!! It has not received the national coverage it deserves!!
So much devastation 🙁
I wonder if there’s a way to combine the stamp out hunger thing with specific communities in need, like this one?
Thank you so much for making people aware of this disaster! Between the oil spill in the Gulf and the terrorist bomb in New York this disaster has been swept under the rug! My husband and I are stationed at Fort Campbell KY and our whole town (Clarksville, TN) is underwater/running out of gas/in a state of emergency!
Thank you everyone for your prayers and help!
Oh God, why do disasters like these happen… My husband’s said that he contributed money towards the fund for Tennessee Flood Victims..
I am in Memphis (about 3 hours from Nashville) West Tennessee was hit hard too, though Nashville by far is worse. The issue in West Tennessee is that it was the more rural areas impacted, so they get even less coverage and assistance. I wonder if people contacted a church and sent coupons that would provide items like body wash (thinking of the Nivea deals right now) for free if the organizations would be interested. I am going to call around and see and if so I will email Collin the info as well as place on my own blog.
THANK YOU so much Collin!! Im a local Nashville girl and its horrible and unbelieveable what our city is going through right now!! I have some pictures on my blog too of the devestation
https://www.kiddosavings.com/2010/05/middle-tn-flood-of-2010.html
Thank you again for spreading the word!!
Thanks for posting this. The Nashville mayor has suggested that donations go to the Red Cross or an organization called Hands on Nashville. Their website is hon.org.
And i didn’t think i could appreciate you more than I already do Collin but when you posted this my eyes filled with tears. We live here in Nashville and are so lucky we didn’t sustain any damage. I just hate to see my fellow Nashvillians hurting so much. THanks for your amazing effort for our great city!
I used to live in TN (wish i still did, might in a couple years) but on the eastern side. TN is full of dams, lakes, and rivers; it’s truely part of life there. So I’m not completely surprised by the flooding, especialy with all the valleys. I’ll be driving up there next week to visit my brother is eastern TN, thakfully they were spared (partly due to the to the fact that the eastern part of the state is less flat than middle/west TN). Definately will say a prayer and hope that God will releave the water.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this! I live in Clarksville (just NW and down river from Nashville). The Cumberland River crested here at just over 62′ yesterday. Thankfully we had no damage, but hundreds of thousands of people all over middle TN have been affected and it just seems to be being ignored by national media! I know there’s a lot going on in the news, but people here need help too. Thank you for bringing this to more people’s attention!
My husband and I both are out of work due to our company shutting down but I know we are still in better shape than alot of people thanks to Collin for all the great savings. I put a check in the mail for Nashville Area Red Cross.
My name is Jessica and I live in Burlison, TN (about 40 miles or so away from Memphis and less that that from the Mississippi river) it was a HORRIBLE weekend. I agree that the flooding and devestation has not been getting as much attention that it should, I’ve seen people who were carried away from their houses in boats just to return for a small glimpse of the roof. I am a single parent of two daughters aged 2 and 1 and I would like to thank you for your site. I have not posted here before but it has allowed me to save A TON of money since I started reading in August of last year. I have a twin brother and sister that go to school at MTSU in Murfeesboro that was hit pretty hard Friday night, I have heard that you can also donate at any Middle Tennessee Kroger Store at the checkout. Tell the cashier or customer service that you would like to make a donation to Red Cross for the Central Tennessee Tornadoes. I know alot of us like to shop at Kroger because it doubles coupons so I though this might help :0) Have a wonderful day and thank you!
Thank you Collin for posting this!!! I live 15 min south from Nashville and there is so much devastation around us. Thankfully our home is ok but we have friends who had to evacuate their homes and most of the places that we used to take our girls to play are no longer there:( Aside from donating cash, I am collecting coupon inserts from my neighbors to use the coupons to buy cleaning supplies and toiletries to donate to the relief effort and to our friends.
I too am in Clarksville and fortunately, live up on a bluff (about 100 feet above the Red River down below). We had a small landslide in the back and lost about 20 feet of our yard beyond our fence, it just dropped off down into the river from all the water runoff (but nothing compared to most). We could not get out of our neighborhood for a couple days, but are extremely fortunate. The River behind us went from being about 100 feet wide to 5 football fields wide or more. We are watching it by the minute and it has dropped several feet in the last 24 hours, so hopefully, the Cumberland River downtown is too, but hard to know as there has been little coverage on Clarksville (local channels have been reporting on Nashville 24/7), but thanks to facebook, we are hearing and seeing more. So many people need help and assistance and it is hard to know yet in Clarksville how to help until this River recedes, but not likely to happen soon as they need to open the dams in Nashville to let that water out and that will cause Clarksville even greater problems.
Colin, Thank you so much for using your website to not only get us awesome deals. But, to also cover news like this. I live in Clarksville, Tn. and our town and others around us are truley hurting by this. So, thank you again!
Thank-you collin im from Tn im in Lake city we got alot of hard ran and flooding around my home we live at the bottom of a ridge we could use our driveway the water was rushing down but I know we didnt get anything like Nashville im sending all free dog food that I got from walmart and alot of other stuff from my stockpile Thank-you Collin with out this website I wouldnt be able to help out other people Thank-you
Don’t forget about Arkansas.
Thank you so much for posting this. I live in Hickman Co. in Tn, one of several counties listed as disaster area. My family is safe, but unfortunately so many friends have lost everything. Bless everyone who choses to give and help in some way. Channel 4 (NBC) will have a telethon on Thursday night to help support local charities 🙂
I agree that Nashville has not gotten the media coverage they have desperately needed. Water, as much as we need it to survive, can be very detrimental to people’s homes & property, not to mention their mental & physical health. I can’t imagine being immobile, misput and not being able to go to my home b/c it was underwater. I have a friend there and she said they were okay but that traffic to go/get anywhere was horrible. I am going to see what I can do as some local businesses have already begun to take donations, etc.
I live in Wilson County right outside of Nashville. Everyone keeps asking why the media isn’t covering this and why no one is coming to help. People need to remember we are the VOLUNTEER STATE. We are handling this like grown ups. Yes, we need help. Yes we need supplies and shelter and so on. BUT no, we are not stealing and looting and going on crime sprees to take care of ourselves. We are taking care of each other and waiting patiently for help to come. My home was spared but I have many friends who were not so lucky. We were planning a yard sale for next month but instead we will be donating everything to victims.
I live in Hopkinsville KY about 20 minutes from Clarksville and 45 minutes from Nashville, it just breaks my heart to see what these poor people are going through. I did not realize it wasn’t getting much media attention because we watch channel 5 and they were on all weekend with information about the flooding and that is really sad because right now they need all the help they can get.
All my family lives in Middle Tennessee. I’ve been hearing from them about the floods (creeping up to my Aunt’s front door) and its really disturbing that I hadn’t heard anything on this prior to reading my family’s posts on Facebook.
Its crazy looking at all of the pictures online. I used to go to some of those places back when I either lived there or visited family. Its just crazy. My prayers go out to those affected by the floods and their families.