Opryland Hotel under 10 feet of water, entertainment district flooded www.privateofficer.com
The Country Music Hall of Fame is closed today with five feet of water in one low-level mechanical room. That flooding has seeped into the loading area for the subterranean Ford Theater.
None of the exhibit halls are in danger of floodwater, spokeswoman Liz Thiels said.
Officials are still evaluating whether to open on Tuesday, she said.
Flood waters continue to rise at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, causing officials to reconsider the status of upcoming events not only for this week but for several weeks to come, said Alan Bostick, senior director of communications.
At this point, there is no timeline on when concerts can take place again at the center.
http://www.tennessean.com/section/videonetwork?bctid=82619950001
Bostick said officials are looking for secondary locations like TPAC, Belmont and The Ryman as venues for upcoming shows, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Crews continue to work onsite at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center but they are unable to gain access to the basement level because of the flooding, which is several feet high, Bostick said.
At least two Steinway Grand Pianos owned by the Schermerhorn have been exposed to floodwaters and although crews are working to keep the water contained to the basement level, it is unclear if it can be contained.
Gaylord Opryland Hotel under 10 feet of water and rising
Parts of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel are under 10 feet of water, and the water is still rising.
It is too early to assess the monetary damage, but it could be months before the hotel is restored and open for business, said Peter Weien, senior vice president and general manager of the hotel.
“It looks surreal,” Weien said.
The Cascades area, which is one of four areas in the hotel and the closest to the Cumberland River at the hotel’s lowest level of elevation, has sustained the most devastating damage thus far. Weien said water started entering the check-in area around 11 p.m. Sunday night. The Delta atrium also sits under an estimated eight feet of water.
Several of the hotels restaurants were no longer visible under the water, with tables, chairs and crates of wine glasses floating across the diesel-tainted water. Many of the low level shops, including a stationary store, were also submerged. Not even the doorways into shops could be seen.
The hotel’s generators were also completely submerged, introducing diesel fuel into the water and leaving a thick smell in the air.
There is no electricity in the building. Staff is walking through hallways with flashlights as it collect luggage left by hotel patrons, all of whom were evacuated last night.
Almost all of the 2,881 rooms in the hotel are undamaged. At this point the water remains mostly in the common areas.
