Nashville: Music City or a Future Atlantis?

Tennessee’s capital has a memorable history with flooding and will undoubtedly see more in the years to come as climate change continues to impact the planet. 

Even though over a decade has passed, Nashvillians remember the great flood of 2010 all too well. They know that the city is likely to face a similar tragedy one day. In the meantime, heavy rains and flash floods have become increasingly common in the area. 

This article reflects on past flooding in Nashville and offers one new homeowner’s perspective.

Nashville’s 2010 Flood

13 inches of rain dumped on Nashville over a 36-hour period on May 1 and 2, 2010. At least 31 people died as a result in Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi with many more injured. More than 11,000 properties were destroyed. 

The first flash flooding of this event came when Mill Creek spilled over in the southeast area of Nashville. Interstate 24 became covered by floodwaters, sweeping away cars and even a large portable building. 

Heavy rains continued to fall, and the Cumberland River overflowed near the northeast corner of Briley Parkway, causing damage to the Grand Ole Opry House, Opry Mills mall and the surrounding area. 

Floodwaters eventually reached downtown Nashville, where many buildings were inundated. Notable sites like Bridgestone Arena and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center saw significant damage and took months to repair. 

Nashville area schools were closed for days following the flood, some for a week or more. 

Flooding Since 2010

Since 2010, Nashville has continued to experience frequent flooding events, though none so singularly catastrophic as the flood of 2010. 

Former President Barack Obama declared a federal disaster in Nashville caused by flooding in June of 2014. 

In March 2021, flash flooding in Nashville killed four people. At least 130 others were rescued by the Nashville Fire Department. 

According to an article from The New York Times, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has historically downplayed Nashville’s flood risk. Data suggests at least 10 percent of properties in the city are at significant risk for flooding. 

Much of Nashville remains at risk of future flooding. No neighborhood is entirely free of major, severe or extreme risk. Areas south of downtown but north of Interstate 440 have the least risk of flooding overall. Two areas in the city with the most significant risk of flooding are the Nolensville neighborhood and East Nashville. 

Nolensville

The Nolensville neighborhood is bounded by Nolensville Pike to the west, Thompson Lane to the north, Interstate 24 to the east and Harding Place to the south. This area is known to locals as a lively, up-and-coming area with excellent international cuisine. 

Nolensville neighborhood properties fall within the 37211 zip code area. Residents with 37211 addresses have a median household income of $37,141, ranking 10th out of 20 Nashville zip codes. 

Nolensville contains the largest, most dense area of extreme flood risk in the city, which falls on either side of a portion of Sevenmile Creek. Three people died in this area during the March 2021 major flash flooding event. 

East Nashville

East Nashville is the most at-risk area of Nashville overall, with several continuous pathways for water to travel with severe or extreme risk. 

East Nashville is bounded by Interstate 65 to the west, the Cumberland River to the south and Briley Parkway to the north and east. The area is nestled within a U-shaped curve of the Cumberland River. The Shelby Bottoms Greenway runs along the southwest portion of the curve and has a lower elevation than much of the rest of the city at about 453 feet above sea level. The Cumberland River rests at about 413-433 feet above sea level in this area. 

East Nashville is known to locals as a hip area, where many young professionals and new Nashvillians are putting down roots. More and more charming restaurants and boutique shops are cropping up in East Nashville as home prices in this part of the city continue to climb, as they have been for several years alongside the city’s rapid population growth.

Though East Nashville in its entirety is considered a neighborhood all its own, locals also refer to its northern half, the Inglewood area, as an independent neighborhood. Inglewood addresses have 37216 zip codes. The median household income for 37216 addresses is $36,072, ranking 11th out of 20 Nashville zip codes. 

Miami, Florida, transplant Kevin Mendez purchased a home in Inglewood in 2020 and has concerns about his property and possible flooding. 

“My property inspector brought up several issues with the house’s gutter system and water flow during the closing process,” said Mendez. “It got me worried about flooding and how likely it is I’ll be dealing with flood damage at some point.” 

Though Mendez’s home sits on the higher ground of a slope, much of his neighborhood rests downhill, where ponding water gathers during heavy rainstorms. 

“Just in the last year since I moved to this neighborhood, I’ve seen ponds where they aren’t meant to be in my neighbor’s front and backyards,” said Mendez. “I don’t see any reason why things would get better. My guess, with climate change, it’s gonna keep getting worse.”

Mendez is hopeful he will avoid flood damage unless a major catastrophe occurs. The aerial image found here shows what land is at greatest risk of flooding in Mendez’s area, denoted with red and blue stripes. His home is located outside the most flood-prone area. 

“Even if the risk to my house isn’t as major, I still worry for my neighbors,” said Mendez. “I don’t want to see them negatively affected. I also worry about being trapped in my home if the streets through the neighborhood all flood.”

The constant threat of flooding hovers over Nashville year-round, especially in the spring and fall months when heavy rains occur frequently. Though the city is making some improvements to combat future floods, Nashville will almost certainly face tragedy in the coming years due to flooding as the effects of climate change continue to manifest.