Ashby Frank
Mandolinist, Singer, Songwriter

Like many others here in Middle Tennessee, my home was flooded after the record rains this past weekend. In my neighborhood we had 18-20 inches of rain in the first two days of May, making it the wettest May in recorded history… only in the first two days.
My sister who was in town while I was out on the road playing with Alecia Nugent managed to save all of my instruments, PC and vital records. Thanks Jennie!

I had 6 inches of water in my house, and 2 feet in my garage. I lost a good bit of “stuff”, and there’s some structural problems that will take me a long time to fix and pay for, but the main thing is that I’m safe, my sister’s safe, my roommate Thomas Wywrot is safe, and my dog Cricket is safe! I’m very lucky. Just one street down (towards the Harpeth River) from me looks like a war zone or worse. I have been told that my house was one of the last ones in this direction to get any water, and that this was a thousand year flood. Glad to know I won’t be around for the next one!

I am lucky enough to have great friends that have helped me clean up, and many more that have offered help even when I had a full house of people helping already. I have water, electricity, food, and just got my internet back today. In fact, the great AT&T technician that came to my house today to replace my damaged equipment told me that he doesn’t have water, phone, or internet at his house in rural Hickman County to the South of here. On top of all of that, the bridge that was on his way home from work collapsed last night.

There are quite a few people here in Nashville that lost everything, and some people even lost their lives. I cannot describe to you what Bellevue, the usually beautiful and peaceful suburb I live in looks like right now. I will post some pictures later, but it’s really mind blowing. The national news and federal government have had bigger things on their plate that have kept them from making a huge deal out of what’s happened to Nashville, but it is catastrophic.

The Opry House, Opry Mills, and the Opryland Hotel (the largest non-casino hotel in the world) are still under water as I type this two days after the storm. The Country Music Hall of Fame, our new Symphony Hall, Bridgestone Arena ( Home of the NHL Predators), LP Field (Titans Stadium), Meto Government Center, numerous malls, businesses, churches, and homes all took on various amounts of water.

I’m asking you as my friends to  please donate whatever you can to the Nashville Red Cross. People were being rescued BY BOAT  just several miles from me just yesterday. There are people without places to stay, and without food to eat. They need your help.

By the way, the good people of Logan’s Roadhouse (which is Nashville based), have set up a food trailer in my neighborhood to feed the volunteers and victims. If there’s one in your area, please patronize them and thank them for all they’re doing here in town.

Also, go ahead and make plans to visit Nashville a few months from now. We’re going to need your tourist money! (and would it hurt so bad to consider the Mashville Brigade for your festival next year, or give Thomas Wywrot’s new CD “Every Time I Walk This Road” a spin at your radio station?) Only half-way kidding….

In all seriousness, thanks for all the well wishes and offers of help that I’ve received. I’m doing as well as could be expected. PLEASE remember to donate to the Nashville Red Cross!

I’ll update again ASAP.