Living on the Verge

 The Valleyist Papers 

 

A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS WRITTEN IN FAVOUR OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF STEPHENS VALLEY 

Author – William Ray 

 

Edition 4. Issue 2. 

Well, 2025 certainly started off with a bang, especially from a weather perspective. This month we are going to discuss SV's unique location as it relates to the ongoing wildfires presently ravaging southern California. Daniel Boorstin, the former Librarian of Congress and a distinguished historian, called areas like where we are a "verge." He described such areas as the boundary between one thing and something quite different. SV meets that definition because we form the boundary between an urban area and the pristine forest that contains the Natchez Trace Parkway. Being in a verge poses great opportunities but also certain risks. This discussion is not intended to create fear or anguish. Further, nothing here should be construed as any condemnation of the way SV has been developed, as it is clear that all relevant regulatory guidelines have been strictly followed. Still, as we all know, one can clearly adhere to all traffic laws and ordinances but still be in a highway accident due to the weather or the actions of others, so let’s just chat a bit about what risks we face and what we should do to minimize them. 

First, let us take a clear look at where we are and what challenges we face as a result of our addresses. We are not in any incorporated city. As such, we don’t have a municipal police department or a municipal fire department. SV is bordered by the Natchez Trace Parkway all along the western edge of the development. The parkway and the forest in which it exists is operated and maintained by the National Park Service. As we all know, the architecture of SV consists of densely packed homes which now reach all the way to the Natchez Trace Parkway boundary. Perhaps the best snapshot of our fire risk can be had by just walking along the sidewalks along Jackson Falls Drive and looking west. See the SV homes now built right up to the forest? See that TVA high voltage transmission line going through the forest? We are also all familiar with the howling winds that often flow through our valley. Okay, now hold those thoughts. 

If we are to compare our situation with those of the communities in California, we ought to start with those facts. If middle Tennessee were to experience the sort of record-breaking drought that California has experienced, the precursor to a bad situation here would be in place. We clearly live in a verge between a very combustible forest, which is bisected by a handy ignition source (should a windstorm bring down one of those transmission lines) and the lovely semi-urban development we call home. Once ignited, we certainly have plenty of homes that are very close to each other, so the possibility of a cascading fire is in place. But don’t let our situation put you in fear. These are just the facts, and we have a lot of things going for us to provide a defense. 

The Williamson County Office of Public Safety is not inexperienced at protecting us. Their Fire Services group https://williamsonready.org/1942/Fire-Services has a lot of information about their organization, and reading this page is certainly worthwhile. However, SV’s fire protection comes from hybrid public/volunteer group whose closest presence is down Sneed Road near Hillsboro Road. You will find dedicated and well-trained folks there. But you won’t find much in the way of forest fire fighting capabilities. You won’t find any aircraft capable of fighting fires from the air. You will find smart people that know how to get the National Park Service activated to fight fires along the Natchez Trace, but a lot of damage could happen long before the National Park Service could come to our rescue and it is doubtful they could dispatch firefighting aircraft to help us quickly either! Also, SV is built with the required amount of fire hydrants scattered throughout the neighborhood, but as was the case in Pacific Palisades, should the Williamson County fire team arrive to fight widespread outbreaks in SV, multiple hydrants being opened to charge multiple fire hoses would surely result in very little water pressure being available. That is not saying someone built the system wrong. Rather, it is just the way physics works. Our water system is fed by an elevated water tank a few miles away, and that tank’s capacity is fixed. The water pressure in SV is provided by the elevation of that water tank. It cannot be increased.

So, what can we do about this situation? For the most part, we should relax and not get too excited about it. However, as in all things we ought to be prepared and have a plan. The most likely trigger mechanism for us putting our plans into action is a lengthy drought, and that is something that should concern us all. Should we find ourselves in that position, we should be prepared with a plan that includes: 

1. Resolute attention to any notices we might get from Williamson County or the NPS. 

2. A ready “go bag” which you can grab quickly, and it should include very important          documents (think deeds, automobile titles, passports, wills, and anything else you deem vital should the worst scenario unfold. Obviously, your phones and other devices (and a guitar if you have one!) should go with you. 

3. A plan of where you would go to spend a few nights out of harm’s way. 

4. Notification to friends/neighbors where you are going. 

5. Prescription pharmaceuticals. 

It costs us nothing to think about this possibility and make some simple preparations. If we are to learn anything from California’s present plight, we must pledge to implement our plans sooner rather than later. When a responsible agency notifies us that we are in danger, we should not need to be told twice.