LOCAL

Nashville bombing: Ten buildings deemed unsafe for use or occupancy

Nashville Tennessean

Metro Nashville Codes inspectors released the addresses of ten Second Avenue buildings deemed unsafe for use or occupancy on Friday.

Seven of those buildings are closed off, meaning no entry is allowed, the department said:

134 2nd Ave N
160 2nd Ave N
166 2nd Ave N
170 2nd Ave N
176 2nd Ave N
178 2nd Ave N
184 2nd Ave N

Three other buildings have been deemed unsafe because of the threat of falling glass, but entry is allowed:

131 2nd Ave N
144 2nd Ave N
177 1st Ave N

Metro Nashville Codes inspectors completed structural assessments of more than 40 buildings in the blast area on Thursday. At least two of the surveyed buildings will need to be demolished because of irreparable structural damage.

Catholic Charities receives $2 million grant to aid victims

Catholic Charities said Friday it received a $2 million federal grant to help Nashville bombing victims with rent and utility assistance, food, counseling and other services.

The funds were provided by the federal Victims of Crime Act, and assistance is available to those who worked or resided in the area between James Robertson Parkway, 4th Avenue North, Broadway, and the Cumberland River. Qualifying individuals can apply online at NashvilleStrong2021.org.

The program will provide rent and utility payment assistance for residents who lost wages or were displaced from their homes. It also will have prepared meals and kitchen staples for those without food and help replace of technology used for work or school. The program also offers counseling for victims.

"We know from our work with the 2010 floods that the psychological impact will last years for some people," said Catholic Charities Executive Director Judy K. Orr. "Traumatic events can leave significant emotional scars if people don't seek help."

Two buildings destroyed, several more unsafe

At least two buildings will need to be demolished due to damage from the Nashville bombing on Christmas morning, Metro Nashville officials reported Thursday.

Inspectors completed structural assessments Thursday of the more than 40 buildings damaged in the blast.

Seven are not safe for occupancy and three more are currently unsafe because of falling glass. Officials have not yet released addresses for damaged buildings, many of which line Nashville's historic Second Avenue.

At least 1,200 employees, 45 businesses and 400 residents from Fourth Avenue to the riverfront and from Union Street to Broadway were affected in the bombing, according to the Nashville Fire Department.

Prior to Thursday, the extent of the damage was largely unknown because the crime scene was previously locked down by federal authorities, who released the sprawling crime scene to Metro police Wednesday.

The scene is now in the hands of the Metro Nashville Police Department and will be overseen by officers for the foreseeable future, the department said. A curfew for the area will remain in place through Jan. 7.

The department added an extra 140 officers to downtown assignments on New Year's Eve, mostly for mask enforcement, MNPD spokesman Don Aaron said.

'It's like war': Residents, business owners get first look at damage in Nashville bombing

MNPD briefs Metro Council on investigation updates

Metro Police Chief John Drake reiterated Thursday he feels officers did all they could in August 2019 when a girlfriend of bomber Anthony Quinn Warner told police she believed he was making bombs in his RV.

"But we're still going to evaluate our procedures, and to try to identify any gaps," he said at a Thursday morning news conference. "We've also reached out to different colleagues around the country who say the same thing, that we've done all we could do other than violate this person's rights. That is not something that we wanted to do."

Mayor John Cooper said Thursday that the city is focused on transparency in the department in the wake of the bombing.

"I know the chief has committed to a professional and transparent process to make sure that we learn from this," he said. "I know the department is dedicated to applying the law equally to all parties. This may be a challenge that America will keep facing. And so we have to be excellent at knowing how we respond to it and do a good job."

Later in the day, Cooper and Drake gave a short briefing to Metro Council about the situation.

Drake said that Warner's life was "spiraling out of control," according to Council Member Bob Mendes, who was on the call.

"Chief Drake indicated that Warner's life was spiraling out of control and that Warner was around (I think Drake said) 'crack heads and drug addicts' while his life was spiraling. There were apparently problems with family members," Mendes shared on Twitter.

He later confirmed to the Tennessean that those were the words Drake used to describe Warner's alleged recent companions.

Council Member Freddie O'Connell reported Metro Nashville Fire Department Chief William Swann confirmed cadaver dogs detected human remains in buildings at risk of collapse.

The remains were likely those of Warner, Mendes said the council was told, and "this is a challenge to deal with as clean-up goes forward."

MNPD declined to release further details about Drake's comments. The FBI declined to comment on Warner's behavior as characterized by Drake. A spokesperson confirmed they still believe Warner was the only one killed in the blast.

Drake confirmed all except one officer who responded to the August 2019 call were still on the force. The other officer had moved to a position with the Tennessee Titans, Mendes reported.

Crews clean debris ahead of storms

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 384 business and property owners checked in with authorities. The Office of Emergency Management in cooperation with law enforcement has organized short trips into the investigation perimeter to allow residents to retrieve personal items and owners to assess damage.

Bill Herbert, Metro Codes director, said Thursday the area is "so precious to Nashville for both historic and aesthetic reasons." Permits for needed rehabilitation or demolition will be reviewed and approved by both the planning and historic commissions before being issued.

Gov. Bill Lee requested federal aid from FEMA on Saturday, and the agency said earlier this week the request was under review.

Metro Public Works sent two crews out Thursday to coordinate barricades and fencing and to clean debris on Second Avenue from Commerce to Church.

"Our goal is to safely remove large pieces of debris, glass, etc., from the street prior to any possible storms tonight or tomorrow morning," department spokesperson Cortnye Stone wrote in an emailed update.

City, nonprofits host food and essentials drive-thru for residents

Metro Nashville organizations and multiple nonprofits are teaming up Friday to host a drive-thru featuring food, essentials and emotional support for residents impacted by the Christmas Day bombing.

The drive-thru will be held at the Community Resource Center (CRC) at 218 Omohundro Place at 1 p.m.

CRC collected enough donations after the explosion to create 1,100 essentials kits. Food will be provided by Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Lutheran Disaster Response will be on scene to provide emotional support.

The event is hosted by Metro Nashville, the Nashville Emergency Operations Center and Nashville Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters.