Editor’s Note: This is only one of many stories of the disastrous flood that hit Nashville five years ago this week. But when we hear what happened to Jeff Jones, his family and the staff of his Woodbine restaurant, a more universal experience of the flood resonates.

The neighbors who raced against rising water to help save what they could from Dairy King embody the spirit that was later expressed on so many t-shirts and bumper stickers: “We are Nashville.”

Other stories dominated the national news that week. A car bomb found by police at Times Square captured national attention. It was surreal to see so many lives being turned upside down in Middle Tennessee as the world looked the other way. But if you live in the Nashville area, no doubt you have heard countless flood stories and likely have your own.

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the flood, we dedicate a full nine minutes to Dairy King because many will hear their own stories in what this family-owned business experienced. And those who were not here in May, 2010 will almost be able to feel what happened.

This story was produced by Jakob Lewis. It’s an excerpt from an original podcast, which can be found at neighborspodcast.com.