Hands On Nashville Steps Up Screening

As flood victims move into the rebuilding phase, volunteer services in the area are stepping up the screening process for those requesting help.

In a rush to gut soaked homes before mold set in, more than 16,000 Nashvillians volunteered with Hands On Nashville.

Most of the people requesting help were in serious need, but the agency found a handful taking advantage of free labor. Executive Director Brian Williams says the organization is now using a United Way database to identify and screen people that request help.

“They’re contacted by an individual who’s going to verify that they’ve got the correct contact information: ‘Have you applied with FEMA? What’s your address? Are you the homeowner or are you renting?’. Then that’s sent to us, and we send a team out to assess damage.”

Williams says victims who have been found to have pre-flood damage are pointed to other non-profits who can help.

Since flood victims are starting to rebuild their homes, Hands On Nashville is now looking for more skilled volunteers with construction experience.