Deluge Submerges Houses That Stayed Dry In Nashville Flood Of 2010

Flood water along Brick Church Pike washed away the pool of James Martin, who has lived in the house for 10 years. He says the water has never gotten so high. Credit: Blake Farmer / WPLN

The water receded almost as quickly as at fell, but torrential downpours in the Nashville area submerged homes and drove residents to higher ground. Some of those homes had stayed dry in the flood of 2010.

Along Brick Church Pike in North Nashville, James Martin’s home backs up to a relatively tame creek bed. When it rains, the water will rise.

“It’s always kinda gotten up in the back yard, but it’s never gotten up close to the house. This is the first year it’s gotten in the house. Nothing you can do except rebuild.”

The muddy brown rapids washed away his above-ground pool, bent his fences to the ground and submerged a car and several riding lawn mowers.

This part of Davidson County received more than seven inches of rainfall. The Red Cross estimates 300 residents were affected by the flash flooding.

Dry Creek follows along Brick Church Pike and swelled well beyond its banks, submerging this NES substation. Credit: Blake Farmer / WPLN

Some Flood Victims Can’t Go Back Yet

Emergency personnel responded to more than 200 calls for help, including one from Shontia Dillard. The bottom floor of her Parkwood Villa apartment building was under water, and her mom had already left for work.

“We were asleep, but my neighbor knocked on the door. We looked out the window and we just saw water.”

The Dillards were eventually rescued by firemen and taken to dry ground and then to a Red Cross shelter. They’ve been told it may be Saturday before they can return home.

City officials estimate 100 homes and businesses were damaged.