Latest News
May 21, 2010
Dear Affiliate Leaders,
As you all know, our long-time corporate partner, Sears Holdings is raising funds in all of its Sears and Kmart stores throughout the state of Tennessee to support rebuilding 50 homes that were damaged by recent flooding. The campaign to raise funds began May 14 and will continue through July 31 of this year. The campaigns are typically held in Sears stores in support of Heroes at Home; however, Sears Holdings is generously holding this disaster relief campaign in Kmart stores as well.
As part of Sears’ commitment to helping Tennessee communities impacted by the storm, on Sunday, May 16th, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sears stores will offer a Friends and Family discount with 0% financing to help with rebuilding efforts. In addition, discounts include an extra 20% off of clothing, an extra 15% off of shoes and home fashions; and extra 10% off of almost everything, including appliances, sporting goods, electronics, luggage and more; and an extra 5% off of lawn and garden. The Family & Friends discount is available only at Sears stores (excludes Kmart) located in Nashville, Antioch, Franklin, Goodlettsville, Murfreesboro and Clarksville.
Please show your support for our very generous partner, Sears Holdings, by shopping at Sears and encouraging your family, friends and staff to do the same. Last but not least, encourage them to make a donation to the campaign while they are there!
Sincerely,
S. Rosha Peavy on Behalf of Rebuilding Together National
Dir., Corporate & Institutional Relations
Rebuilding Together, Inc.
1899 L Street, N.W., Suite 1000
Washington, D.C. 20036
Office: 202-518-3112
Mobile: 202-680-2637
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May 12, 2010
Rebuilding Together’s Affiliates and Partners Respond to Natural Disaster in Tennessee
WASHINGTON, DC – Due to the unprecedented flooding in Tennessee recently, low-income homeowners have been disproportionately impacted by the devastation. Not only are their homes and personal belongings destroyed, but often they lack the resources and insurance to rebuild once the crisis is past. Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, will be there once the flood waters have receeded. In the coming days and months, local Tennessee based Rebuilding Together affiliates will be assisted by the national office to carry out critical relief efforts.
The flash flooding that has recently wreaked havoc and disaster in Tennessee, most specifically in the areas stretching from Nashville to Western Tennessee, has greatly impacted countless neighborhoods. The National Office of Rebuilding Together has launched initial outreach to the two Rebuilding Together affiliates in Tennessee – Rebuilding Together Nashville and Rebuilding Together Sparta/White County. Thousands of low-income homeowners were immediately impacted by the natural disaster and will require clean-up, rebuilding and preservation assistance from Rebuilding Together.
“Rebuilding Together’s National Office has recognized the urgency of this situation and will direct every effort necessary to help our affiliates access as many resources as possible so that they may assist low-income homeowners who have been adversely affected by this natural disaster,” said Gary A. Officer, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “As a leading housing organization, we know how critical appropriate response time is needed in the wake of natural disasters – we are willing and able to help homeowners who have experienced great loss as a result of the flooding.”
In addition to providing resources and assistance to its Tennessee affiliates, Rebuilding Together is also proactively inviting the public and corporate sponsors to donate to the rebuilding needs of the impacted communities. They intend to raise a continued awareness for this area to ensure that a long-term recovery plan is created and carried out.
Rebuilding Together Nashville has been an affiliate of Rebuilding Together for 16 years and has completed 107 homes with the help of over 3,508 volunteers since its original inception. They have been greatly involved with rebuilding projects in the neighborhoods that have been most affected by the recent floods.
Rebuilding Together also plans to collaborate with its latest national partner, PLAN!T NOW, a severe storm preparedness non-profit co-founded by Morgan Freeman, to provide educational and other supportive resources.
To learn more about Rebuilding Together and its work to assist low-income homeowners, visit their website at www.RebuildingTogether.org
About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America’s largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to, energy efficiency, veteran’s housing, aging in place and gulf coast reconstruction.
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May 7, 2010
Sons of Tennessee Express Concern for Flood Victims
By Julia Dawson and Josh Kastrinsky
Hollywood, CA – Actor Morgan Freeman expressed condolences today to his friend, country music icon Kenny Chesney, upon learning of the devastation to Chesney’s Nashville, Tenn., home following severe storms and floods.
“I’m concerned about my friend, who’s lost his home, and all the people of Tennessee impacted by these storms,” said Freeman via phone from LA.
Freeman himself was born in Memphis and Chesney has lived in Nashville for more than a decade. Last night, Chesney briefed CNN’s Anderson Cooper about the damage to his home and the entire city, urging more national media attention and emergency aid for Nashville and surrounding areas.
Today, Freeman joined Chesney in the plea for more media attention, emergency relief and later, enhanced emergency planning to mitigate losses from future floods.
“I urge all who can to support emergency relief efforts and, later, long term recovery efforts that boost disaster resilience in Tennessee and beyond,” he said.
Both stars are storm planning and recovery advocates for P!N, which helps residents in communities nationwide protect themselves from water-borne disasters like the Tennessee floods through emergency planning.
“We cannot prevent floods from occurring, but we can take steps to protect ourselves and our neighbors,” said P!N President Donna Lee. “Sophisticated computer models like HAZUS [used by FEMA] help cities and states predict and assess flood damage and institute protective safeguards to minimize loss. On the individual level, keeping hard and electronic copies of wills, deeds and other important documents should be standard practices for residents of storm zones.”
P!N suggests the following resources for Middle Tennessee residents seeking:
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Emergency Food, Shelter & Medical Care
- The United Way’s 211 service can connect callers with roughly 7,000 programs in Middle Tennessee that offer assistance with food, clothing and shelter, among others. Call 2-1-1.
- For those who have questions about flooding or need non-emergency assistance, Metro has a hot line, (615) 862-8574.
- Call the Red Cross at (615) 250-4250 to find the closest shelter or go to www.nashvilleredcross.org. The American Red Cross is operating 18 shelters across Middle and West Tennessee. The centers will provide counseling and aid for victims as well as access to other social services.Metro Davidson County now has multiple Disaster Information Centers for general information on utilities, social service assistance and legal and insurance information (but not medical assistance). Centers will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at:
Bellevue Community Center, 656 Colice Jeanne Road, (615) 862-8435
Coleman Community Center, 384 Thompson Lane, (615) 862-8445
East Park Community Center, 700 Woodland Street, (615) 862-8448
Hadley Community Center, 1037 28th Avenue North, (615) 862-8451
Hermitage Community Center, 3720 James Kay Lane, (615) 316-0843
- Metro Public Health is offering free tetanus shots at the five community centers around Nashville for people who might come into contact with flood water.
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Counseling Services For Victims Who Have Lost Loved Ones, Their Home, & Other Property
Call the Red Cross at (615) 250-4250 to find the closest shelter or go to www.nashvilleredcross.org. The American Red Cross is operating 18 shelters across Middle and West Tennessee. The centers will provide counseling and aid for victims as well as access to other social services.
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Federal Aid Money For Recovery & Rebuilding
Residents and business owners in the affected counties can apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
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Free Legal Advice
Volunteer lawyers will provide free services at three upcoming legal clinics:
Legal Clinic, sponsored by the Nashville Pro Bono Program – May 11 at 4:30 p.m. at Legal Aid Society, 300 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37201. No appointments needed.
Special Disaster Legal Clinic, sponsored by the Nashville Pro Bono Program – May 12 at 5 p.m. at Legal Aid Society, 300 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37201. No appointments needed.
For more information about the Nashville Pro Bono Program clinics, visit the organization’s blog at: http://nashvilleprobono.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/legal-help-for-flood-victims.
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Helping People Understand What Thier Insurance Will & Will Not Cover
If you have issues with an insurance company, call the Department of Commerce and Insurance at 1-800-342-4029.
Avoid unlicensed contractors who could take advantage of homeowners anxious to rebuild after disasters by hiring only licensed contractors. Consumers may verify a license status by calling 1-800-544-7693 or checking online at http://licsrch.state.tn.us/.
- State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., 1-800-732-5246
- Farm Bureau Insurance, 1-800-836-6327
- Allstate Insurance Co., 1-800-767-7619
- Nationwide Insurance Co., 1-800-421-3535
- Traveler’s Insurance Co., 1-800-252-4633
- Farmers Insurance Group 1-800-435-7764
- USAA (United Services Auto Association), 1-800-531-8111
- Foremost Insurance Co., 1-800-527-3907
For non-insurance issues, call the Consumer Affairs hotline, 1-800-342-8385.
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For Non-Victims, How To Help Those In Need
- Hands On Nashville is doing widespread organizing of volunteers to help with a variety of flood recovery and relief efforts, as safe volunteer opportunities are identified by the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. Register at www.hon.org.
- Middle Tennessee Kroger locations are collecting donations of money and non-perishable items for the American Red Cross and Second Harvest Food Bank to aid flood victims.
- Financial donations can be made to relief efforts through the Community Foundation at www.cfmt.org.
- To support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts, make a credit card donation by calling 1-800-725-2769 or online at www.salarmy-nashville.com.
Complete disaster recovery information is available from Nashville’s The Tennessean. See updates at www.tennesseean.com.
