01/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/31/2026 10:22
The Nashville Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is urging people to prepare for a forecast of dangerously cold weather over the weekend and into the beginning of next week.
This comes as the area continues to respond and support recovery efforts for Metro Nashville Davidson County in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern.
The Nashville Office of the National Weather Service forecast temperatures will plummet once again this weekend with over 60 consecutive hours of below freezing temperatures expected. Wind chills will be below zero, especially overnight.
The area will see on and off snow showers Friday afternoon through Saturday.
Accumulations of a dusting up to one half inch are likely for areas Middle Tennessee along and east of I-65, with 1 to 2 inches of snow on the Cumberland Plateau.
OEM will continue to conduct Winter Patrols and Cold Patrols along with ongoing winter sheltering operations.
A fifth potential storm-related death is under investigation. Betty Doss, 79, died this morning inside her Heritage Drive home in Madison that she shared with her daughter. The daughter discovered her mother on the floor and called 911.
Partial power had recently been restored, but the HVAC system was not working. The first responding officer reported the thermostat showed a temperature of 44 degrees inside.
The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
MNPD also identified four other people who died possibly due to the weather.
Causes of death in these cases are pending the Medical Examiner's findings.
Metro Nashville Departments and community partners are focused on ongoing efforts to restore power to thousands of people still without electricity, provide warming locations with transportation provided, provide meals at shelters and to vulnerable communities, and provide information about resources available to impacted residents.
NFD, MNPD and Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) continue to provide safe transportation to area Warming Locations for Davidson County residents as needed. for people's homes are also provided once their power is restored.
To request transportation call 615-401-1712. DEC personnel answering the hotline have access to interpreters so anyone, regardless of the language they speak, can request assistance getting to a warm, safe location. They will also work to get you back home when your power is restored.
Please be prepared to provide this information:
Since the transportation hotline started on Sunday, personnel from the Nashville Fire Department and the Metro Nashville Police Department have transported more than 625 people.
OEM is using Wireless Emergency Alerts to share important information about shelter locations. The community may continue to receive additional alerts as this event continues or when conditions change. These alerts matter and are meant to reach as many people as possible, so please do not disable them.
Warming locations are at all Nashville Fire Stations and Metro Nashville Police Precincts, except for the Central Precinct and East Precinct, for residents affected by the current cold weather.
These locations will be open 24/7 until further notice.
In addition, these other locations are also open 24/7, with overnight accommodation and access to food:
Pets are allowed to be brought to the locations. You are requested to bring a crate for your pet.
Transportation requests will be handled as resources allow, with priority given to those most vulnerable to extreme cold.
Warming Location Map
Thursday the Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), The United Way and Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, announced The Winter Weather Relief Fund for individuals and families affected by the storm to apply for relief.
Funds will be used as needed to address current needs and emerging needs, such as food and supplies. In the coming days, once community needs can be assessed, funds will be used for cleanup and debris removal.
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
If you have an unmet need, call the United Way's 2-1-1 hotline for available resources and support. 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that helps connect people to local resources available to help in times of crisis and beyond.
Dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 to get started. United Way's 2-1-1 line is already fielding about 50% more calls. United Way is encouraging callers to remain patient and stay on the line when you do call.
VOAD also launched their needs tracker for Davidson County residents where they can put in their needs, damage information and resources needed. The needs tracker is at NashvilleResponds.com.
Warming Location Clients
Clients on Monday overnight
Clients on Tuesday Overnight
Clients on Wednesday Overnight
Clients on Thursday Overnight
Metro Public Health is providing nurses and mental health professionals to provide services at the Warming Shelters.
Nashville Humane Association is providing pet support at shelters.
Officers from the Metro Police Department are staffing our three largest shelters at the Fairgrounds, Madison Community Center and Southeast Community Center. Those shelters combined had 402 persons overnight.
MNPD Chief John Drake has arranged for officers on overtime to complement on-duty shifts as we work through storm recovery. More than 100 additional officers and supervisors per day over three shifts are providing extra patrols to neighborhoods without power and are available to assist with shelter transportation.
Nashville OEM encourages community members to check on neighbors, family members, and others who may need assistance during cold weather events.
Metro Nashville Public Schools, in collaboration with Mercy Chefs and World Central Kitchen, will host a Community Relief Event this Saturday, January 31, offering free hot meals and winter clothing to those in need.
Community Relief Event
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Locations:
Available While Supplies Last:
This event is open to the public and is intended to assist individuals and families experiencing hardship due to power outages and other storm-related impacts.
For more information on MNPS's inclement weather response and available community resources, please visit mnps.org/weather.
Water Distribution
Metro Water Services plans a water distribution event Saturday at the Old Joelton Middle School.
Bottled water will be provided to residents affected by water issues in the Joelton, Union Hill and Whites Creek areas.
Water Distribution Event
Old Joelton Middle School
3500 Old Clarksville Pike
Joelton, TN 37080
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Food Distribution
Winter weather has created ongoing challenges for families across the region. Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and Emergency Management partners are coordinating closely with community organizations, including Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, to have access to food.
Neighbors looking for food assistance can find nearby food pantries and distribution sites by visiting the Second Harvest website.
Weather conditions may impact hours of operations. Neighbors are strongly encouraged to call the pantry or distribution site ahead of time to confirm hours before traveling.
Many of Nashville's hospitality companies have provided support since the beginning of the storm - from donations to warming shelters to free or discounted meals for Metro staff, NES teams and other linemen working around the clock.
Discounted Hotel Reservations for Impacted Residents
The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp and the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association and their members are providing discounted hotel lodging for residents.
There is a central database of dozens of hotels in and around Nashville offering deeply reduced rates for residents needing longer-term accommodation. That list is available at visitmusiccity.com/hotel-local-discounts.
Residents without internet access can call the NCVC at 615-259-4700 to help locate available options.
That same page also includes updated status information for many local restaurants and attractions, including openings, closures, and adjusted operating hours residents should check the database consistently since it is updated frequently.
Short-Term Rental Discounts
The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp and the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association worked with their industry partners to open up more options for local residents needing longer-term accommodation.
VRBO is now also offering discounted rates.
VRBO has created a dedicated page listing local properties with reduced rates, which can be found at VRBO's website.
Airbnb has partnered with the United Way of Greater Nashville to provide free, emergency housing to qualifying families impacted by the storm.
People in need should contact 2-1-1 to get connected to the program.
Metro Social Services
MSS is providing Case Management at the three designated winter storm shelters operated by OEM to provide case management to those impacted by the storm. Case managers will connect residents with resources needed to navigate and recover from the storm.
Some of the resources and information provided will be related to rental assistance, helping find housing, connecting with available food resources available in the city, and other needs related to the storm.
Locations: Nashville Fairgrounds, Southeast Community Center, Madison Community Center
Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Nashville Office of Homeless Services
January 29 OHS Night Emergency Overflow
January 30 Midday report
Utilizing a shelter in place model
Metro Overflow Shelter will operate on extended hours
OHS along with other Metro Departments are preparing for a week of low temperatures.
We are closely monitoring the weather and final decisions are made by noon the prior day with a text alert at 9:00 a.m. on the opening day.
We will continue to closely monitor the temperatures over the next 7 days.
Please encourage individuals to continue to utilize the primary shelters until they reach full capacity. OHS will closely coordinate with local primary emergency shelters to make adjustments and transportation arrangements as needed.
Metro Emergency Shelter operates as the overflow shelter; please continue to use the regular Emergency Shelter options at Room In the Inn and Nashville Rescue Mission. Cold Patrol and Outreach Teams, make every attempt to deliver people to the primary shelter options prior to utilizing the Metro Overflow Shelter. When transporting people to the Metro building, ensure people actually enter the building prior to driving away.
Launch Pad Emergency Shelter provides shelter for unstably housed young adults 18-24 in an LGBTQ+ affirming atmosphere. Details about hours, locations, and procedures will be provided to young adults via email upon sign-up through the Launch Pad website..
Hispanic Family Foundation (HFF)
Current Status
Community Concerns
We understand that there is hesitancy among community members due to past experiences during emergency responses. We are working diligently to build trust, assuring families that their safety and well-being are our top priorities. We are also mindful of concerns related to security and immigration, and we are encouraging families to seek help in ways that feel safe and comfortable.
Looking Ahead
We remain committed to supporting the community, ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need. We are also facilitating transportation to the newly opened shelter in Bellevue, and we're continually exploring ways to address concerns and provide reassurance.
Update from Nashville Electric Service (NES)
NES teams are making progress on repairs and restoring power to customers after a historic severe storm with snow, freezing rain and ice impacted the region. NES lineworkers have restored power to 170,700 customers. NES and contracted lineworkers will continue operations in rotations, and they will remain on extended 14-hour to 16 hour shifts to ensure we can continue responding quickly to help our customers.
Right now
NES has deployed 1,100 lineworkers to continue restoration efforts in the field, including crews from Florida, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee. We have 150 additional lineworkers on their way. Additionally, 257 vegetation management team members as well as supplemental contract teams have been deployed to complement restoration efforts and ensure lineworkers can continue reaching their sites efficiently.
To help customers after this massive storm, NES is ceasing disconnections for nonpayment and waiving late fees until further notice. In addition, NES has added a Storm Q&A section to its outages web page to answer frequently asked questions. The page also now has a detailed color map showing which neighborhoods have power restored and which areas have outages.
We have also received reports of individuals charging homeowners $2,200 to repair damaged meter bases and other equipment. While it is true that homeowners are responsible for the weatherhead, service mast, and meter base, we're asking customers to follow these steps to avoid scams and stay safe:
If weatherheads, power masts, or meter bases are damaged, our lineworkers cannot safely reconnect power. NES maintains and repairs the lines leading to a customer's home, but homeowners are responsible for the equipment on the house. If home equipment repairs need to be made, we strongly suggest contacting a licensed and registered electrician for those repairs.
NES restores power by tackling areas affecting the largest number of customers first. We understand being without power is difficult, especially when conditions outside are extreme. Regardless of where a customer lives, each customer is important, and our lineworkers are working hard to restore power to every last customer. No one will be forgotten or left behind; however, utility prioritization practices are to restore the greatest number of customers first.
While other companies have offered support, which is greatly appreciated, we have been able to grow our workforce with current contracts and mutual aid partnerships. Safely restoring power to all customers is always our top priority. In terms of utilizing outside crews, integrating new crews into a live electric system is challenging. We will not and cannot compromise safety. Linemen must be qualified, trained on our system, insured, and integrated into our safety and operations protocols. Mutual aid ensures crews meet those criteria.
Along with city officials, NES also continues to ask for the community's help. If your power is out, do not call 911. We need to keep those lines open for emergencies. But if you see a downed power line, that is an emergency, so that is when it is appropriate to call 911. We ask that everyone stay away from downed power lines, and to always assume they are live and dangerous.
How to Stay Updated
Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT)
Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) crews continue working around the clock to clear Nashville roads, support emergency response and assist Nashville Electric Service (NES) with power restoration efforts by clearing obstructions and vegetation from impacted streets.
NDOT crews are currently working to clear trees, limbs and other vegetation from the right-of-way. NDOT does not clear downed trees or vegetation from the right-of-way until NES has cleared the lines assuring that no power is running to them. Once lines are cleared, NDOT will return and clear the roadway. This is not an immediate process and takes some time to complete.
NDOT does not clear or remove fallen trees, limbs, or vegetation on private property.
Many residents have downed trees, limbs, and other vegetation on their property. As residents begin recovery efforts, they should move brush to the curb of their property. Do not block storm drains, culverts, or drainage ditches with brush.
NDOT will be adding supplemental countywide residential brush collection for brush that is at the curb. More information about dates will be available in the coming days.
In addition to the work described above, NDOT has 22 right-of-way inspectors deployed across the county evaluating infrastructure including signs, signals, delineators, speed cushions, sidewalks, bike lanes, pavement issues, potholes and any other damage they may encounter.
As a reminder, NDOT uses a comprehensive list of primary, secondary, and post-secondary snow removal routes to maximize efficiency and cover as much of the county as possible. Like last year, post-secondary routes will replace call-in requests, but reports can still be made to hubNashville and will be used for data gathering and evaluation to inform future winter weather response.
To report a non-emergency issue affecting a Metro Nashville street, visit hub.nashville.gov
Key numbers to know
NDOT has responded to over 1000 tree/vegetation in the right-of-way calls since the event began
Potential for More Winter Weather
Dark traffic signals
Continued treatment of icy roads
Metro Water Services
Metro Water Services (MWS) is urging all property owners-residential and commercial-to take immediate steps to protect their water systems from cold weather damage. Water expands when it freezes. Frozen pipes and unprotected backflow prevention assemblies can lead to costly repairs, water loss, and service disruptions.
As temperatures drop, MWS is asking every customer to take simple, proactive steps now- insulate exposed pipes, protect and winterize backflow assemblies, check for leaks, and make sure you know how to shut off your water in an emergency. A few simple steps taken today can prevent costly damage and help safeguard our entire water system during the upcoming cold snap.
All MWS facilities and operational functions are fully staffed.
Operations
Response
Water main breaks are posted on our Outage Map.
We are still experiencing system issues in the Joelton and Union Hill areas but are seeing improvement.
Pipes that Freeze Most Frequently
Guidance for Residential Property Owners
Taking these precautions helps prevent costly water damage and reduces the risk of service interruptions during severe weather.
Guidance for Commercial and Industrial Properties
Proper winterization not only prevents system downtime and costly emergency repairs, but it also helps maintain regulatory compliance and protects the public water supply from potential contamination.
How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Pipe
Locate your Water Shut-off Valve NOW to Prevent Extensive Damage in the Event of a Break:
Stay Prepared and Stay Informed
MWS encourages all customers to monitor weather forecasts and take action before temperatures drop. Weather related announcements from MWS will be posted on our social media platforms @NashvilleMWS.
When temperatures rise, an increase in water main breaks caused by ground shift is anticipated. Potential water main breaks should be reported to MWS as soon as possible to 615-862-4600. If water is seen bubbling up in a roadway or flowing in an unusual place, or residents experience a water outage or unexplained low pressure, it may be the result of a broken water main. Current break investigations or active break repairs can be viewed on the MWS Outage Map.
Nashville Waste Services
Nashville Waste Services (NWS) has initiated a first return to residential trash collection, where conditions allow, as part of a comprehensive recovery effort. To support this, the department is also activating more than thirty emergency trash drop-off sites and extending convenience center operations through the weekend to provide residents with immediate disposal options.
Revised Collection Schedule
To ensure as many neighborhoods as possible are reached before the city's new collection schedule transition on February 3, NWS crews will work through the weekend following this adjusted calendar for trash only:
What Residents Need to Know
Reminder: Starting February 3, Nashville Waste Services will shift to a new residential trash and recycling collection schedule.
Emergency Trash Drop-Off Sites
To provide immediate relief for residents, NWS has activated Emergency Trash Drop-Off Sites at the following locations. These sites are free of charge and strictly for bagged household trash only. These sites will operate this Saturday (January 31) and Sunday (February 1) from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Operations beyond Sunday will be determined on a site-by-site basis.
Please visit our Emergency Trash Service Update Storm Recovery Page for updates and more information. Residents can also follow NWS on Facebook or Instagram for updates.
Convenience Centers: Special Sunday and Monday Hours
To provide residents with additional options for material disposal, all four Metro Convenience Centers-which are normally closed on Sundays and Mondays-will remain open (8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) daily through Saturday, February 7:
Convenience Center Locations
Fee Waiver: Fees remain waived for all residents at these locations through Saturday, February 7.
Department of Emergency Communications
Generator Safety from the American Red Cross
The primary hazards to avoid when using a generator are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust, electric shock or electrocution, and fire. Follow the directions supplied with the generator.
Avoiding Scams
You can check to see if a business is licensed/bonded by checking with Metro Codes at: 615-862-6560.
Protecting Yourself from Contractor and Repair Scams
Avoiding Government Impersonation Scams
Securing Personal Information and Finances