May 24, 2010: Henry Williams completed the Hope Force Reservist training this January in Nashville. He was quickly called up for duty following the disastrous floods that Nashville experienced in May.  Thirty counties were declared major disaster areas by the federal government, which translates to about 31% of Tennessee designated a disaster area. In Davidson County alone, more than 10,000 properties were affected.
 

“I’ve never been in the middle of a disaster before,” says Henry. “I’ve done volunteer work before but this was totally new.” He was called in shortly after the flood waters began rising and got straight to work. “The first job was supporting the flood response directors at Nashville’s disaster response headquarters. Once the waters began receding, it was a matter of going house to house, helping people muck out their homes.” Although rising waters cause significant property damage during floods, the mud and debris left afterwards pose just as much of a challenge to returning the home to a habitable state. “We found ourselves providing leadership for a number of volunteers who would show up looking to help.” Henry recalls. “If you have a strong back and a strong stomach (to tolerate the smells and odors) we can put you to work.”
 

Henry eventually was asked to fill a volunteer coordinator’s role at the Hope Force headquarters in Brentwood. “Most of the homes in the region have been cleaned out, now it is a matter of continuing to dry the structures so that rebuilding can begin,” he explains. “We are actively looking for a case worker whose job would be identifying homeowners who are most in need of assistance. We then need to identify a construction coordinator who will be responsible for directing teams of volunteers who will help with the rebuilding and renovation of damaged homes.”
 

Hope Force has established a fund to facilitate assistance efforts for those affected by the flooding in Central Tennessee. If you would like to contribute, please note "Nashville Floods" when you make a gift.