Nashville calls for volunteers as cleanup phase accelerates

Nashville is moving into the next stage of the winter ice storm: the clean up. It’s going to be a team effort. Metro is working with volunteers at the United Way’s Hands on division to get the wreckage hauled away.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell delivered the callout this week while standing in front of a tree branch hanging over a walkway in a public park in North Nashville:

“If you can operate a chainsaw we could use your help,” he said.

A lot of tree branches and limbs need to get to a curb. Nashville’s transportation department currently has 1,200 requests — and growing — for debris removal. They will get to all of these, but it would go quicker with some help, says Lori Shinton with the United Way of Greater Nashville.

“Volunteers are essential,” she said. “The more volunteers we have now, the faster we can assess that damage, schedule debris removal, get help to the right places.”

If you can help, the place to go is HON.org. 

“Anyone who can give a few hours can make a meaningful difference,” Shinton said.  

Volunteers will go door to door, helping get debris to the curb.  Once it’s there, NDOT is working with FEMA. They will weigh the debris so that they can be reimbursed by FEMA, then they will work to get it chipped and mulched.   

It’s a big effort, one that NDOT Deputy Director Phillip Jones acknowledged: “I’ve been here with the city for 32 years. This is probably the most, or the biggest, countywide impact that we’ve had in this county that I’m aware of. So it’s gonna take a little time but we have a good plan put together. You set it to the curb, NDOT will get it.”

Officials expect it to take two or three weeks to get the debris cleaned up.

Hands On Nashville is holding a community wide clean-up day Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location details will be sent by email if you sign up.

If you need help

Within Davidson County, call 211.

You will be directed to help with damage, assistance and more. To ask for assistance online you can go here.

Damage support: If you cannot afford repairs or have access to insurance, savings or contractor support, you can request for assistance here.

Rent and mortgage support: Up to $2,000 per household. Qualification information and application here.