Tennessee Dodges Katrina’s Winds

Governor Phil Bredesen says the state dodged a bullet.

Hurricane Katrina’s force, while weakened, still threatened to flood parts Tennessee. The strong storm prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tropical storm warning for middle Tennessee for the first time in history. There were heavy rains and high winds, but for the most part, it blew over without major damage.

Governor Bredesen says he called the governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi to let them know Tennessee is ready to help.

Bredesen knows natural disasters well. A tornado ripped through Nashville while he was mayor. He also surveyed a tornado-ravaged Jackson just two years ago. He says sometimes there’s a need to, in his words, “just have someone get things done,” a role he says he can play if needed.

“You don’t know at noon on the first day after exactly it is what you’re gonna need. People get in and the situation changes. I think the whole game is your there and you’re flexible and when some need is identified you’re ready to move and to help.”

Tennessee Task Force one, a military unit out of Memphis has been deployed to Baton Rouge to help search and rescue efforts. That unit is the same one that went to the Pentagon after 9-11.

Churches are also helping. The Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention is preparing 300-thousand meals for Hurricane Katrina victims.