TN Dept. of Military releases flash report on winter weather
FROM TN DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY:
Flash Report #7 – Winter Weather
HIGHLIGHTS
- The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville remains activated at a Level 3 – State of Emergency to support statewide coordination in response to Winter Storm Fern
- Restoring power remains the state’s top priority, as prolonged cold temperatures continue to strain utility systems and slow restoration efforts across impacted regions
- Today, Governor Bill Lee announced he requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for 23 impacted counties.
- Hazardous road conditions persist statewide.
- Hotlines Available: The TBI Hotline (1-800-TBI-FIND) remains active as a centralized, statewide resource for storm-related welfare check requests to help make contact with your loved ones. The Winter Weather Information is established to support Tennesseans impacted by Winter Storm Fern. 1-844-4TENN-4U (1-844-483-6648).
- Warming centers remain open in impacted areas.
- Emergency Service Coordinators (ESCs) from TDOT, TDEC, TDCI, TDH, THP, TN Department of Human Services, and more are monitoring the situation and standing by to provide assistance to local jurisdictions.
CURRENT SITUATION
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for most of East Tennessee east of I-75 from Friday at 1:00 p.m. EST through Sunday at 1:00 a.m. EST. Forecasts indicate moderate to heavy snowfall, with expected accumulations of 2–4 inches across Tennessee, which may further impact already stressed infrastructure, roadways, and power restoration efforts in affected areas.
Today, Governor Bill Lee, announced he requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration on Wednesday, January 28, from the federal government for 23 Tennessee counties impacted by recent winter weather. This request is intended to accelerate access to federal assistance and support ongoing response and recovery operations as the state continues to address widespread storm impacts.
Restoring power remains Tennessee’s top priority. The state is working closely with local, federal, utility, and voluntary partners to identify and deploy additional personnel and resources to impacted areas to continue. Efforts are focused on clearing downed trees to restore access for utility crews and emergency responders, expedite power restoration, and maintain critical routes. TEMA continues to coordinate chainsaw and cut-and-toss operations statewide, prioritizing primary routes, emergency access roads, and heavily impacted communities. Through combined state and local efforts, at least 3,000 downed trees have been cleared statewide, including more than 1,100 by local governments, with thousands more removed from state routes by the Tennessee National Guard, TDOT, TWRA, and Forestry crews. To further accelerate recovery, Executive Order 111 authorizes TDOT to assist with debris removal on county and city roads when requested through TEMA.
TEMA has also coordinated delivery of 285 cots and blankets; 12,180 cases of water; 700 gallons of gasoline; 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel; six Starlink systems; 10,080 pounds of salt; and a generator to impacted areas statewide. Resource coordination remains ongoing as additional requests are received.
POWER OUTAGES
- The current extreme cold is increasing the power demand across Tennessee. Conserve energy by staying indoors, lowering your thermostat, and reducing non-essential electricity use if health allows to prevent temporary power interruptions. More energy saving tips can be found on the TVA website.
- As of 6 p.m. on Jan. 28, more than 93,500 customers are without power statewide.
- Lineworkers and other crews are working around the clock to restore power as quickly as possible.
- The public is reminded to stay clear of downed power lines and assume all lines are energized.
WARMING CENTERS
Warming centers open statewide, with some transitioning to overnight shelters. Warming centers are locally managed, and availability varies by location. Residents should consult TEMA’s interactive warming center map or contact their local Emergency Management Agency. TEMA maintains an interactive map of centers operating throughout the state. Please check the notes section on the map for each shelter, as hours of operation and other information may vary between locations. If you need assistance or have questions about shelters for your area, please contact your local Emergency Management Agency.
TDOT
Road conditions are expected to continue worsening across the state. TDOT crews are working 24-hour shifts to salt and brine state routes; however, freezing rain and low temperatures limit the effectiveness of treatments.
The public is strongly urged to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
- Crews are continuing to support communities with winter weather impacts.
- This is a statewide, coordinated response, and every region is engaged. These figures help illustrate the scale of the effort:
o 44,000 equipment hours
o 88,400 labor hours
o 66,000 tons of salt
o 1.5 million gallons of brine
o 555,000+ miles of roadway treated
o 2,923 Services Rendered to Motorists
o Thousands of Trees Cleared
- It is suggested to avoid driving if possible. If not, you can check road conditions on the TDOT Smartway website.
Tennessee National Guard
- The Tennessee National Guard has been activated to assist with debris removal in Chester, Hardin, Hickman, Davidson, Shelby, Perry, and Lewis counties.
o Chester County – 16 persons
o Davidson County – 120 persons
o Lewis County – 10 persons
o Hardin County – 16 persons
o Perry County – 20 persons
o Hickman County – 10 persons
Tennessee Highway Patrol
- THP continues to respond to traffic crashes and provide assistance to stranded motorists. To date, troopers have assisted more than 1,600 motorists since the beginning of Winter Storm Fern.
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry crews are currently covering 10 active assignments across 9 counties with 67 personnel deployed.
- Cheatham County – 6 Persons
- Clay County – 4 Persons
- Decatur County – 4 Persons
- Hardin County – 9 Persons
- Hickman County – 9 Persons
- Lewis County – 8 Persons
- Macon County – 5 Persons and 2 Dozers
- McNairy County – 14 Persons
- Wayne County – 10 Persons and 2 Dozers
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
The TBI Hotline, 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463), will be operational Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT and is only intended to serve as a centralized, statewide resource for individuals seeking to report concerns that would normally prompt a welfare check. By directing these calls to the state level, local non-emergency public safety and emergency management agencies can focus on critical response and recovery efforts related to the storm.
Members of the public are encouraged to call 1-800-TBI-FIND instead of contacting local non-emergency public safety offices or local emergency management agencies for welfare check requests during this weather event.
Davidson County Exception:
All welfare check requests for individuals located in Davidson County must be submitted through the county’s online hub page and should not be directed to the TBI Hotline. Requests can be made at on Metro Nashville’s webpage.
TN Department of Health
Things to know about carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Many people rely on alternative power sources to keep their homes warm during power outages. Portable backup generators produce the odorless, colorless, poisonous gas carbon monoxide (CO). CO claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands more ill.
- Never use a generator inside your home or garage even with the windows and doors are open.
- Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home, doors, and windows.
- Install battery-operated or battery backup carbon monoxide detectors near every sleeping area in your home.
- Check carbon monoxide detectors regularly to be sure they are functioning properly.
- For more information about CO poisoning prevention, visit Healthy Homes – Carbon Monoxide.
- Power outages can cause refrigerators and freezers to warm quickly, increasing the risk of foodborne illness. To keep food safe, keep cold foods at 41 degrees or below, keep doors shut, and when in doubt throw it out.
- The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 12 weather-related fatalities. In previous flash reports, Cheatham County reported two weather-related fatalities. After further investigation, only one fatality is confirmed in Cheatham County.
o One fatality in Cheatham
o Three fatalities in Davidson
o Two fatalities in Hardin
o One fatality in Haywood
o One fatality in Henderson
o One fatality Hickman
o One fatality in Knox
o Two fatalities in Obion
TDEC
Drinking water facilities in the following counties are experiencing impacts due to the winter weather. Currently all water systems have water supply, but residents should follow any guidance issued by their water provider.
Drinking Water Systems
| County | Utility | Impacts |
| Hardin | Aqua Utilities | Boil Water Advisory |
| Hardin | Saltillo WD | |
| Hardin | Savannah WD | Boil Water Advisory |
| Hardeman | Woodrun Lakes | Water Conservation Advisory |
| Hardeman | Limestone Utility | Boil Water Advisory; Water Conservation Advisory |
| Hardeman | Middleton WD | Boil Water Advisory; Water Conservation Advisory |
| Hardeman | Hornsby WS | Boil Water Advisory |
| Hardeman | Rogers Springs Lake POA | Boil Water Advisory |
| Henderson | Scotts Hill WS | Boil Water Advisory |
| Hickman | Centerville Water System | Boil Water Advisory |
| Hickman | Turney Center Water | |
| Houston | Erin WD | |
| Lauderdale | Gates | Boil Water Advisory |
| Lewis | Hohenwald | Boil Water Advisory |
| McNairy | Selmer | Boil Water Advisory |
| McNairy | Michie WS | Boil Water Advisory |
| McNairy | Adamsville | Boil Water Advisory |
| McNairy | Eastview | Boil Water Advisory |
| Macon | Lafayette | |
| Perry | Lobelville WD | Boil Water Advisory |
| Perry | Linden WD | Boil Water Advisory |
Other Infrastructure
Commercial communications outages are occurring in some areas due to power loss and ice damage.
PROTECTIVE ACTIONS/KEY MESSAGES
- Contact your local emergency management agency if you need immediate assistance.
- Use extreme caution when heating homes during power outages. Never use generators, grills, or propane heaters indoors. Use space heaters safely and never leave them unattended.
- Discard perishable food that has been above 40°F for more than two hours due to power outages.
- Crisis Cleanup is assisting residents with free storm-related property cleanup, including fallen trees. To request assistance, call 844-965-1386.
- Residents who rely on medical devices or refrigerated medications should plan ahead and contact healthcare providers or utilities if power disruptions pose a health risk.
- Turn thermostats down to 68 degrees or lower to reduce energy consumption.
- Do not connect generators directly to your home.
- Avoid unnecessary travel and limit time outdoors due to hazardous conditions.
- Stay clear of downed power lines and assume all lines are energized.
- Check on neighbors who may be vulnerable, including seniors and those without power or heat.
- Rely on official sources such as TEMA, local EMAs, TDOT, and utility providers for accurate information.
- Report price gouging to the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs.
- Call *STAR THP (847) for assistance or emergencies on Tennessee highways.
- Monitor local news for the latest weather updates.
