After being closed for 2 days due to the severe flooding throughout much of Nashville, as of May 4th The Bluebird Café has been fortunate enough to resume normal operations. Doors will open at 5:30 each night and shows will go on as scheduled.

The Bluebird Café is aware of the water shortage throughout Nashville and is doing its part – for the remainder of the water crisis The Bluebird Café will be utilizing disposable wares and cutting its water usage as much as possible - we will also continue our recycling efforts. We encourage you to do the same.

Additionally, if you are able, we also encourage you to help out in one of the following ways:

Hands On Nashville: A clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities during the flood as they are approved bythe Mayor's Office of Emergency Management. Registration is required, but HON provides a wealth of opportunities with a large level of coordination.

Middle Tennessee Red Cross: Donations are accepted. Can be made online or by texting REDCROSS to 90999

Second Harvest Food Bank: The food bank is being forced to relocate its inventory from MetroCenter. Monetary donations can be made at their website.
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: Donations to the Metro Nashville Disaster Relief Fund can be made online.

Nashvillest: The website and its Twitter have proven invaluable among the social-networking savvy and blogging community during the flood. The site has become something of a clearinghouse, and following Nashvillest on Twitter is a great way to find volunteer efforts in your area.

The Bridge Bunch: Taking donations of money and, at the moment, socks for the residents of Nashville's Tent City and larger homeless community.

NashvilleFlood on Twitter: An account set up sometime Monday promising to help disseminate information. In need of a truck? Send them an @-reply. Got a truck? Let NashvilleFlood now. A grassroots resource that is helping the in-need and the willing-to-help.

Also, in East Nashville,ArtHouse Gardens is acting as a community meeting place to connect people who can help with those who need help.

Nashville Flood Radiothon: A Facebook group for radio stations mobilizing relief efforts. Read more about at Music Row.

Pets are flood victims, too: Local orgs are helping with stranded or lost pets in the wake of the flood.

NashvilleFloodHelp: A group of lawyers at Dodson Parker Behm&Capparella wanted to do something to help flood victims and so have created a blog designed to be a digest of useful information.

Free legal advice for victims: Nashville Pro Bono is offering free legal assistance and seminars to those affected by the flood. Check out their website for scheduling and more information.

Mental Health Assistance: If you've experienced trauma or other emotional effects from the flooding and aftermath, the state has resources at this website. Or you can call 615-532-6700 or 1-800-560-5767 for more information.

What to do when you're cleaning up: The University of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture has a comprehensive list of tips and guidelines for cleaning up flood-damaged property.

MusiCares: Providing emergency financial assistance to people in the music industry, they have the ability to help anyone in the music industry who was affected by the flooding. To be qualified you must have been in the music industry for at least five years. This includes tour bus drivers, writers, etc. The organization will help replace homes, music equipment, etc. Call Cortney Bailey at (615) 327-0050 or email at cortney.bailey@grammy.com.

FEMA: FEMA said residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance Wednesday by registering online athttp://www.disasterassistance.gov/daip_en.portal or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper's office also issued guidelines to apply for aid. Read them here (PDF).