In addition to monitoring the oil spill situation in the U.S. Gulf Coast, the National Tour Association (NTA) is closely monitoring the flooding of Nashville with the help of the Nashville CVB and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development – both NTA members. ABC News reported 19 deaths, to date.
On May 1 and 2, the city of Nashville, and some of the surrounding cities and counties in Tennessee, experienced record-breaking rains. “While the overall impact of this past weekend's weather has not been fully assessed, some of Nashville's popular attractions have sustained flood damage and will be closed for several weeks,” the NTA said in a statement. “However, many of Nashville's attractions, restaurants, hotels and historic sites remain open for business.”
Major attractions impacted by the flooding include the Grand Ole Opry, along with the Country Music Hall of Fame, are both flooded. The Cumberland River, which winds through the heart of the city, spilled over its banks as Nashville received more than 13 inches of pounding rain over the weekend, the Associated Press reports.
The flash floods were blamed in the deaths of 17 people in Tennessee alone, including nine in Nashville. The city has more than 11 million visitors annually. Other deaths were reported in Kentucky and Mississippi.
In addition, travelers to other major Tennessee tourism destinations, including Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, the Smoky Mountains and Northeast Tennessee, will find these locations without incident and 100 percent operational, the NTA said.
The NTA recommended that visitors planning a trip to Middle Tennessee check the website of the individual attractions, as well as the lodging facility, for continuous updates. The Nashville International Airport is in operation.
MTA and RTA bus and train service has been suspended. Visit www.nashvillemta.org for details. For Nashville specific information, check www.visitmusiccity.com.