A small contingent of Richland County Council and County management will travel to Nashville today to meet with officials who helped the Tennessee city rebound from the devastating flood of 2010.
Richland County officials will meet with Nashville leaders to discuss lessons learned – from navigating the policies and procedures of FEMA to devising a plan of action to move forward.
Nashville experienced widespread devastation five years ago after a more than 13 inches of rain fell during a 36-hour period. The flood led to the deaths of more than 20 people and the loss of hundreds of businesses. News outlets reported the flood caused more than $2 billion in private property damage and $120 million in public infrastructure damage.
Despite the destruction the city faced, Nashville pulled together to rebuild. Now, FEMA cites the Southern city as a local model of flood recovery.
The eight-member Richland County contingent will gather with Nashville officials for daylong meetings and tours. The group, which includes County Council Chairman Torrey Rush, County Administrator Tony McDonald and Emergency Services Director Michael Byrd, will return to South Carolina on Thursday.