A resolution requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management to thoroughly inspect the dam and levee system protecting Nashville and Davidson County from flooding.

WHEREAS, the tragic flooding in New Orleans as a result of breaches in the City's levee system caused by hurricane Katrina has heightened our nation's awareness about disaster preparedness; and

WHEREAS, the levees constructed in New Orleans were insufficient to protect against a storm of the magnitude of Katrina, and a lack of adequate funding to address this insufficiency appears to have contributed to the breaches in the levees; and

WHEREAS, the flood protection for Nashville and Davidson County consists in part of the J. Percy Priest Dam and Reservoir and the Old Hickory Dam maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which were designed and constructed in the 1950's and 1960's; and

WHEREAS, in order to ensure that Nashville and Davidson County is protected from large-scale flooding, it is fitting and proper that our dam infrastructure be thoroughly inspected.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management to thoroughly inspect the dam and levee system protecting Nashville and Davidson County from flooding.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Nashville District and to Richard Byrd, the director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management.

Section 3. That the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management are further requested to respond to the Council as to the feasibility of and/or action taken in compliance with the request stated in Section 1 hereof within sixty (60) days from the adoption of this Resolution.

Section 4. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ludye Wallace