WINTER STORM UPDATE
Tuesday, January 27th
Belle Meade Residents,
As you know, the City of Belle Meade experienced an unprecedented natural disaster beginning on Sunday morning. Every single property and every single street in our City has some level of damage. City staff is giving their full time and attention to addressing this situation. Public Works and Law Enforcement employees have slept at City Hall since Sunday and every employee has given their full energy to this restoration. I am pleased to report that every arterial street is now passable. These nine streets provide the basis for emergency and crisis recovery. However, full recovery will take weeks, not days.
This is your Tuesday update on the winter storm recovery. Commissioners and city staff are coordinating on the recovery efforts daily during this emergency. We will continue to provide daily updates until all services return to their normal schedule. I apologize for the delayed update today, but hope to update you each day regarding our progress and with essential information. Please know that our city staff, NES, and other contracted workers are working around the clock on this recovery.
POWER UPDATE
We understand this is everyone's top priority and we are advocating for Belle Meade as a priority. We must emphasize that we do not know exactly when power will be restored to much of our area. We have been told it may be weeks before broken and downed poles can be reset and that all lines can be repaired. If you can make alternative arrangements to stay outside the area, we do recommend that you do so. Ask about local discounts, we are hearing that some hotels are offering discounts for Davidson County residents. Without power, many retailers in our area will remain closed and it will be difficult to obtain groceries, prescriptions, fuel, etc. Additionally, we are concerned about the number of water and sewer system issues that could arise from extended freezing temperatures and no power.
Most of Belle Meade’s sewer system consists of grinder pumps that will not pump out to the force main lines without power. This means that if the tank is full, it could result in back-ups into your home. We know that local news sources are recommending dripping your faucets to avoid burst pipes; however, if you have a grinder pump that will only fill the grinder pump’s tank faster. We recommend turning off your water and your hot water heaters. Both gas and electric water heaters must be turned off if you turn off the water to avoid potential damage to the hot water heater. If you need assistance turning off your water valve or having your tank emptied, please call Belle Meade Police Dispatch at 615-297-0241.
ROADS UPDATE
Currently, most streets in Belle Meade continue to have fallen tree debris in the roadway but are passable by at least one lane. Fourteen (14) streets are completely blocked by trees and are the immediate, top priority so that these homes can be accessed by emergency and other response vehicles. The currently blocked streets are:
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Webster Lane
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Royal Oaks Place
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Bellevue Drive W
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Lillywood Road
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Drew Place
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Bellevue Drive S
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Glen Eden Drive
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Deer Park Circle
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Royal Oaks Drive
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Herbert Place
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Chickering Lane
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Sutherland Ave
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Signal Hill Drive
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Carriage Hill
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Jackson Blvd at
Howell Pl
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TREE DEBRIS CLEAN UP
Due to the volume of fallen trees throughout the city, the City has called in additional contractors to provide heavy machinery to assist with cleanup efforts. This week we will not have normal brush services. Please help us by moving all tree debris to the street edge. Also, cut all trees and tree debris as small as possible to assist us with collecting and removing more. As usual, if you use a private tree service, they must haul off and dispose of what they cut or use a chipper. We will all need to work together throughout this recovery effort. Currently, the City is focused on removing all trees that are blocking roads, and those that need to be cleared so that NES can make repairs, as long as it is safe to do so. Residents can assist by focusing on clearing blockages and debris from driveways. Please use care to not block waterways, storm drains, ditches or culverts to prevent stormwater issues. We will continue to provide guidance as we progress through the week.
State Representative Caleb Hemmer is assisting us with coordination with NES and seeking state resources to help our area recover. We are working together to ensure that NES has a list of areas that they need to make safe before we can complete tree clearing. Any trees with power lines in them could have a remaining electrical charge from the live wires which can cause serious injury or even death to our tree crews. For this reason, all contractors and/or volunteers must wait for NES to make it safe first before they work.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ALERT
Beware of scammers and other suspicious individuals looking to take advantage. There are already companies soliciting business such as tree removal and roof repairs. Please use caution when you are selecting a company and do your research before hiring them. Some individuals will try to take advantage of people at weak moments by marking up their prices and asking for large deposits before the work is even started, then never coming back. Additionally, be alert to suspicious individuals and the potential for looting of vacant homes during these times. Please Lock Your Homes. Belle Meade Police are patroling with blue lights on beginning this evening.
See Something? Say Something!
Report All Suspicious Activity Immediately to 615-297-0241
Additionally, please check on your neighbors and be a resource by letting Belle Meade Police know if there are any elderly person that need medical assistance.
TRASH SERVICE
Currently, we do not anticipate regular garbage collection services this week. Residents may bring garbage to the dumpsters behind City Hall and we hope to have updates by Thursday or Friday on when and how we will restart collection.
STAY IN AND STAY SAFE
Belle Meade Police and our Emergency Communications Dispatchers are available 24 hours a day at the Police Department and 615-297-0241.
If you need assistance with a sewer red light or other grinder pump issue, please call Belle Meade Police, and the dispatchers will alert Public Works to respond.
Belle Meade Police Dispatch's 24/7 Non-Emergency Line
615-297-0241
CALL 9-1-1 for EMERGENCY RESPONSE
