Nashville Bombing: An Update from NASBA President and CEO
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Published Date: Dec. 28, 2020
Dear NASBA Members and Friends,
I am sure you have been watching the news regarding the Nashville bombing. As you might expect, I have been in regular contact with NASBA Chair Carlos Barrera, Vice Chair Mike Fritz and immediate past Chair Laurie Tish since the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville. Now that it appears the suspect has been identified and the threat diminished, I wanted to update you on the latest information.
The good news is that the NASBA headquarters building (One Nashville Place) did not sustain any damage. There were apparently some minor water leaks that may have resulted from the concussion caused by the explosion. Yesterday, we completed an assessment of our IT systems and all are functioning normally. We are about 1 ½ blocks from where the bomb was placed but the AT&T building shielded our building from the blast, however, many of our neighbors (literally blocks of businesses and offices) sustained significant damage and will be out of business for some time. Most importantly, we began ascertaining the well-being of our downtown resident staff almost immediately following the bombing and all have been accounted for and are safe.
As of this morning, our offices are primarily closed and most, if not all, of our staff will be working remotely. Although the bomber has been identified, the investigation and crime scene are still active and extends to the rear of our building. Our parking spaces remain closed and access to the building is limited. We are hopeful that will end soon. Luckily, this is our slowest week of the year, so the impact on our services is minimal. Some of us will hopefully return to the office soon.
COVID-19 continues to be a major issue for us. Tennessee (particularly the urban areas) is seeing large numbers of new cases. The infection rate (positive tests/total tests) is 18% statewide and much higher in Nashville, so we continue to be extra cautious. The good news is that we are operating at near normal effectiveness while working remotely. It appears that we are going to end 2020 in good shape financially, but it is too early to “count our chickens” for the fiscal year. Overall, I am very pleased with our current position and so proud of our staff.
Now that Hanukkah and Christmas have passed, I hope each of you had a great holiday season and I want to wish each of you a healthy and Happy New Year in 2021. I, for one, am ready for a new year!
