Nashville flood impact for vet clinics still unknown

Nashville, Tenn.

-- The Grand Ole Opry may be under water as floods ravage parts of Nashville, but veterinary practices in the area aren't reporting much more damage than downed power lines at press time.

A spokesperson at Value Vet Clinic in Nashville said May 5 that its location wasn't having any flood-related problems, but that another of its clinics on the west side of town was having some phone line issues.

Bellevue, a neighborhood a little more than 10 miles southwest of downtown Nashville, was one of the hardest-hit areas, according to many of the practices contacted in the area. Attempts to contact practices around Bellevue were unsuccessful, due to the phone line outages, but neighboring clinics said they hadn't heard of much damage to their colleagues' locations.

Flood levels were receding by May 5 after several days of flooding, severe storms and tornadoes that began April 30.

President Barack Obama approved federal disaster relief funds May 4 for the four counties in Tennessee affected, and more counties are expected to be added in the near future. Residents and business owners can start applying for assistance though the Federal Emergency Management Agency immediately.

Nearly 50 streets and highways were closed during the height of the flooding, but bus lines around Nashville began to reopen May 5. Nine fatalities have been reported, according to the city, and police and fire officials reported making more than 1,000 water rescues over the course of the six-day flood.

Nashville's Animal Care and Control assisted residents in caring for their pets during the flooding. As of May 5, the city's animal control facility was full, but a temporary shelter had been set up by the city for 42 companion animals displaced by the flood.