NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Nolensville Volunteer Fire Department is raising money to create a swift water rescue team just days after strong storms and flash flooding left parts of the area underwater.
On Sunday, strong storms dumped inches of rain on Nolensville, creating areas of heavy flash flooding.
"The historic school, the rec center was underwater, it was over all the roadways,' Nolensville Volunteer Fire Chief Adam Spencer said. "We had multiple water rescues going on at one time."
But most of those rescues, as well as water rescues that happened during another flash flooding event two weeks ago, were actually performed by nearby agencies in places like Brentwood, Williamson County or Rutherford County.
Spencer said that's because the Nolensville department doesn't have a swift water rescue team of their own. He said recent rounds of flooding have shown that Nolensville needs a team of its own.
"The decision has been made that we need to start and form our own swift water rescue team," Spencer said. "With the rapid growth we're experiencing, and with there being nowhere for the stormwater to go, I see it happening again, and again, and again in the future, so this is something, it is absolutely a need."
But the need comes with a cost, and the department is looking to raise something between $20 thousand to $25 thousand to pay for the team. The money would go toward gear, rafts, trailers and extensive training for crew members.
The department is now asking for donations from the community to help pay for the costs of creating swift water rescue teams.
"Every little bit helps, every single penny donated right now goes to this effort," Spencer said.
You can donate at the Nolensville Volunteer Fire Department website.
