Tennessee Floods: Disaster Declared, Media Criticisms Levied

President Obama has declared four counties in Tennessee Federal disaster areas after floodwaters washed through them over the weekend and into Monday. Residents who had been evacuated by the waters returned to their homes yesterday. Power in much of downtown was shut off thanks to a main circuit failing at approximately 3:15 a.m. Tuesday; it’s estimated that electricity won’t be restored to the area, which includes the closed-until-further-notice Hilton and the 33-story AT&T; Building. Meanwhile, local residents are getting somewhat aggravated by the downplaying of the floods in the national media, especially in relation to the weekend’s foiled Times Square car bomb:

I’m trying to be sympathetic and not judge the national media too harshly. The attempted bombing is more immediate to the newscasters who live and work in New York. Of course they’re going to think that’s big news. Just like how I think all this flood damage is big news. I’m right here right now seeing it.

I’m just disappointed because the bomb didn’t go off. The flood bomb here, however, did.

And it’s more than just some homes flooded. Tourism is one of our top economies. If you’ve ever been to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel you know what a massive resort it is. It’s the largest hotel here, not to mention one of the largest in the U.S. It’s a major spoke, if not a hub, in our tourism machinery.

It’s going to be closed down possibly for months. Do you know how much loss of business that is? And all the people who will be out of work from that? Hundreds, if not more like thousands. Because you also have to factor in the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills -both of which are next to the hotel and help comprise the Opryland area. There’s no word yet on when either of those will be operational again either. They were also submerged.

Plus there’s all of the other businesses around town that benefit from the large conference crowds the hotel can accommodate. There will be no trickle down effect from all of this. It’s going to have an immediate impact on a variety of businesses and services.

[Picture of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, which may have suffered up to $75 million worth of damages and could be closed for as long as six months, via]