Frequently Asked Questions

Flood Recovery FAQs

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• Who should I be in contact with about donations for helping with the flood?

  There are numerous organizations that are helping facilitate the rebuilding of Nashville. Here are a few of the companies that are accepting donations:

  • Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee – CFMT is collecting donations through their Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund and will distribute this money to local-area non-profit organizations who are helping individuals in flood recovery.
  • American Red Cross - By giving to the Disaster Relief Fund, your donation will be used to help those recently affected by the flooding in the South. Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies
  • United Way of Middle Tennessee – United Way is collected donations to its Restore the Dream Fund, a fund established more than a dozen years ago to support non-profit agencies during and after disasters, including structure and infrastructure restoration.
  • Salvation Army – By giving to the Salvation Army, you are supporting their efforts to provide assistance to flood victims in the form of meals, water, clean-up kits, spiritual and emotional care, and other household assistance.

• I want to volunteer but, I am not sure how. Who should I contact for further information on how to help?

  Hands on Nashville is coordinating volunteer efforts. By visiting their website you can find out about volunteer needs, view a calendar of flood volunteer opportunities as well as find out more general information on ways to help.

• I own an out-of-state company that is interested in offering services to those affected by the floods. What is the process for establishing operations in Tennessee and can you help me get connected to those in need?

  To start offering business services in Tennessee, you must first obtain a business license and fill out a tax return form with the Department of Revenue.

  1. Get a business license, which costs $30 and can be acquired at: 
                 523B Mainstream Drive 
                 Nashville, TN 38228 
                 615.862.6050
  2. You need to fill out a Tax Return Form for the Department of Revenue on the projected amount of work you will be doing.
     Example: On $100,000.00 you will pay 1/10th of 1% paid to the city and county, ($100.00 to the city, $100.00 to the county).

  Unfortunately, we cannot individually promote business services to our members. However, the Nashville Chamber has compiled a list of member companies offering possible flood-related services, as well as a place for our members to post coupons for free or discounted services to flood victims. This is a service available to our members. If you are interested in joining the Chamber, please visit http://www.nashvillechamber.com.

• I need more help in my business due the high demand for reconstruction services. How can I get the word out about job opportunities in my business?

  All Nashville Chamber members are invited to post their job opportunities on our online job board. There is also a special job forum specifically for flood-related positions. Follow these instructions to submit your job posting.

  If you are not currently a Chamber member, we are still willing in helping get the word out about your openings. Please contact careers@nashvillechamber.com for more information.

  For information on becoming a Chamber member, please visit http://www.nashvillechamber.com/belong.

• How do I go about rebuilding my business?

  We have compiled a checklist of Business Recovery Tips to help ensure that your business doesn’t miss a step in its flood recovery and rebuilding process.

• Who should I contact in regards to flood recovery services?

  The Nashville Chamber has put together a list of businesses offering services that may help with reconstruction of damaged areas. View the listing of Chamber members who can help.

• My business has been affected by the flood. How do I apply for financial assistance?

  If you are interested in obtaining government assistance for your business, you must first register for assistance through FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/assistance or call 1-800-621-FEMA to obtain an application number.

  Once you’ve completed your FEMA application, your business might be eligible for a federally subsidized SBA loan to help pay for damages not covered by insurance. Apply at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Default.aspx or 1-800-659-2955. The SBA will arrange for someone to come to your business and inspect the damages. If you don’t qualify for an SBA loan, you will be rerouted back to FEMA to see if there are any grants available to help.

• Are any discounted services available to assist my business with flood recovery?

  Yes! Many member companies of the Chamber are offering coupons for their services – both discounted and in-kind. A list of these available options can be found on the Chamber’s business directory under “"Flood Recovery Coupons" located at the bottom of the page.

• Is water conservation still in effect in Davidson County?

  No, but we we still encourage all residents AND businesses to be responsible and not wasteful of our water supply.

  With above 75% reservoir levels and the K.R. Harrington plant coming back online as of June 1, Davidson county's water conservation requirement has been amended. However, the K.R. Harrington plant is currently only operating at 50%.

  According to Metro Water, limited hand watering of flowers and gardens is now permitted and car wash services are allowed to reopen. However, irrigation, pressure washing, personal car washing at home and pool filling is still prohibited.

• What Nashville-area counties have been designated as federal disaster areas?

  46 counties in the state of Tennessee were declared as federal disaster areas by President Obama. Of those counties, the entire Nashville region is included: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson.