February 4 Winter Storm Fern Update

The Nashville Office of Emergency Management (OEM) continues to urge people to seek shelter if they are without power.

The Nashville Office of the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast Metro Nashville Davidson County will remain on the cooler side through Saturday. Then a period of notable warming is expected Sunday into early next week. Overall rain chances are low through the next 7 days.

OEM in partnership with the American Red Cross, Nashville Fire Department, Metro Social Services (MSS), Office of Homeless Services (OHS), Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), Davidson County Sherriff's Office, WeGo Transit and the VOAD is working to provide resources and services to displaced families as they work to return home.

Teams from our partner agency are working with families who can return home with support from the Red Cross. This included verifying the family home has electricity and it is safe to stay in the home.

Resources include:

• Financial assistance for food, clothing and other storm-related losses
• Referrals to licensed contractors for home repairs, including electrical
• Other recovery-related support resources.

Anyone needing assistance or additional resources can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS.

MSS and OHS continue to provide resources for clients who are unhoused.

These include:

• Housing options
• Medical care
• Behavioral Health services
• Other supportive services, based on individual needs.

Warming Shelters are still available 24/7, with overnight accommodation and access to food:

• Southeast Regional Community Center: 5260 Hickory Hollow Parkway, Suite 202, Antioch, TN 37013
• Madison Community Center: 550 N Dupont Avenue, Madison, TN 37115
• Bellevue Community Center: 7638A Highway 70 South, Nashville, TN 37221

NFD, MNPD and Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) continue to provide safe transportation to area Warming Locations for Davidson County residents as needed.

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.

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:

• Your name
• Your current location
• The number of people needing transportation
• Are there special needs or mobility concerns?
• Do you have pets? (pets are allowed for transportation)

OHS Overflow Shelter

February 3 OHS Emergency Overflow Shelter

• 263 people for overnight sheltering
• 263 Hot meals, warm cots
• Pets are allowed to stay with their owners.
• Bus passes distributed
• Transportation needs addressed with a vendor, Mobility Solutions.
• Onsite medical and behavioral health triage
• Meals provided by Mercy Chef and World Central Kitchen

February 3 OHS discontinued utilizing a shelter in place model for all day services.

Today's temperature is above 32 degrees and all day sheltering is no longer needed for this week.

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.

Winter Weather Relief Fund

United Way Greater Nashville

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Disaster SNAP Benefits

Replacement SNAP Benefits (for existing SNAP recipients)

The Tennessee Department of Human Services is prepared to provide replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to current SNAP households who suffered losses due to severe weather which may have caused power outages or household misfortune.

These replacement benefits are available for existing SNAP recipients who:

• Lost food due to a power outage of 12 hours or more
• Lost food due to household misfortune

Individuals requesting replacement benefits need to sign an affidavit and send it to TDHS using the Upload Documents option, within the One DHS Customer Portal. New to the One DHS Customer Portal? Get instructions on how to set up an account and link your case. Once your account is set up and case linked, you may submit an Affidavit Request for SNAP Replacement Benefits.

More information about disaster emergency assistance

Hands on Nashville (HON)

HON is organizing volunteers for all kinds of ground level help in the community. They should go to HON.org to find volunteer opportunities and join the organization to help.

Generator Distribution

How to Request Assistance

Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofits in need of a bulk supply of generators should contact Nashville VOAD directly at [email protected] to assess availability and coordination.

Individuals and Households

Individuals in need of a generator in Davidson County should visit NashvilleResponds.com and complete the Needs Tracker form by clicking on "Share Your Needs" or call 2-1-1 for assistance in completing the form.

Once submitted, a member of the Nashville VOAD team will follow up to further assess needs and, when possible, coordinate delivery.

Generator availability is limited, and requests are prioritized based on safety, vulnerability, and urgency. The Nashville VOAD and its nonprofit partners use needs-based assessments to prioritize households without power, particularly those with young children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and residents who rely on life-sustaining medical equipment. We appreciate the media's partnership in sharing accurate information and helping connect those impacted by the storm with the appropriate resources.

Generator Safety

Nashville Fire Department Generator Safety Video

Nashville Fire Department Generator Safety Video (Spanish)

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.

• To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet conditions. Operate it on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp held up on poles. Do not touch the generator with wet hands.
• Be sure to turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.
• Store fuel for the generator in an approved safety can. Use the type of fuel recommended in the instructions or on the label on the generator.

Local laws may restrict the amount of fuel you may store, or the storage location. Ask your local fire department.

Store the fuel outside of living areas in a locked shed or other protected area. To guard against accidental fire, do not store it near a fuel-burning appliance, such as a natural gas water heater in a garage.

• Plug appliances directly into the generator, or use a heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads.
• Check that the entire cord is free of cuts or tears and that the plug has all three prongs, especially a grounding pin.
• Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. Known as "backfeeding," this practice puts utility workers, your neighbors and your household at risk of electrocution.
• Remember, even a properly connected portable generator can become overloaded, resulting in overheating or generator failure. Be sure to read the instructions.
• If necessary, stagger the operating times for various equipment to prevent overloads.

Power Restoration Safety

You can check to see if a business is licensed/bonded by checking with Metro Codes at 615-862-6560.

Restoring electricity after structural or electrical damage requires careful steps to prevent fires, injuries, and additional property damage. Metro Codes and Building Safety provides 24-hour assistance for emergency electrical reconnects when outages or destruction of electrical service occur.

How to Safely Restore Power After Building Damage

If a building has sustained electrical damage, property owners must secure the services of a licensed electrical contractor to complete repairs. Contractors should always be verified as properly licensed before work begins.

To have electrical service restored by Nashville Electric Service (NES), the following steps must be completed:

1. Secure a licensed electrical contractor to make all necessary repairs to the electrical system.
2. After repairs are completed, the contractor contacts the on-duty Metro Codes Electrical Inspector to request an inspection.
3. Metro Codes will immediately conduct a virtual inspection of the repaired electrical work.
4. Once the work is approved, Metro Codes issues a required release number to NES, allowing electrical service to be restored.

After the release number has been issued, all remaining steps are handled by Nashville Electric Service.

For updates following the issuance of a release number, contact NES directly at 615-736-6900.

Tips to Avoid Electrical Hazards During Reconnection

When a building is reconnected to the power grid, voltage spikes may occur, potentially damaging electrical components and increasing the risk of fire.

Residents and property owners are urged to follow these safety precautions:

• Leave the main electrical breaker turned off and unplug all appliances before power is restored.
• Once power is restored, reenergize appliances one at a time.
• Disconnect any generators or external power sources connected to the electrical system, as these create serious fire hazards and can delay power restoration.

The Nashville Fire Department stresses that improper electrical reconnection can lead to dangerous conditions.

Property Owner Responsibility

Property owner responsibility begins at the point where Nashville Electric Service connects service drop wires from the electric pole and transformer to the building, including the service riser and meter base.

Any damage to the electrical system from that point to the breaker panel or fuse box must be repaired by a licensed electrical contractor at the property owner's expense before power can be restored.

The Nashville Office of Emergency Management, Metro Codes and Building Safety, and the Nashville Fire Department thank residents for their patience and cooperation as restoration efforts continue and encourage everyone to take the necessary steps to ensure a safe recovery.

Metro Codes on X (formerly Twitter)

Metro Codes on Facebook

Nashville Electric Service (NES) Update

After extensive damage caused by the historic, severe ice storm, Nashville Electric Service has restored power to 222,500 customers which means 98% NES customers have power. 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.

NES is now posting a new interactive map with estimated restoration ranges based on zip code twice a day at NESpower.com. Customers can find information on total customers, number of customers without power, estimated restoration timing and percent of customers that have power restored by zip code.

Today

• 7,500 customers currently without power
• 791 broken poles across our service area
• 468 poles have been fixed
• 1,900 lineworkers deployed
• 350 vegetation management team members
• 320 personnel from NDOT and TDOT clearing roadways and rights-of-way to provide access in support of restoration efforts
• 160 National Guard personnel deployed to assist in materials and logistics
• 32 state foresters from Department of Agriculture deployed in field
• Supplemental contract teams have been deployed to complement restoration efforts and ensure lineworkers can continue reaching their sites efficiently

NES is now posting estimated restoration ranges based on ZIP codes twice a day at NESpower.com. Customers can find information on the targeted completion date for their entire zip code on the website. The estimated information is based on real-time data and may change or fluctuate based on the shifting weather patterns and cold temperatures that continue to cause downed power poles, lines and transformers.

In addition to the new restoration estimates, NES has developed and launched a specially created web-based tool - My Outage Tracker - that provides residential customers with individual household information about the status of their outage so they can know from remote places when their power has been restored.

NES is ceasing disconnections for nonpayment and waiving late fees until further notice.

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.

If your power is out, do not call 911. NES also continues to ask for the community's help. We need to keep those lines open for emergencies.

If you see a downed powerline - stay away. That is an emergency, so that is when it is appropriate to call 911. Always assume they are live and dangerous.

How to Stay Updated

• If you are without power, please report it by texting OUT to 637797 (NESPWR) from the phone number linked to your account, or by calling 615-234-0000.
• NES will share restoration information on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook throughout the event.