February 2 Winter Weather Update

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

According to the Nashville Office of the National Weather Service (NWS) the weather is turning warmer and rainy.

What to Expect

High chances for rain for Middle Tennessee tomorrow, with up to one half inch of rainfall expected on the Cumberland Plateau.

Cooler dip to back around freezing Wednesday and Thursday.

Dry weather mid to late week with overnight lows in the 20s.

Most Metro Offices will return to normal operations. However, if you have in person business check with the office before going.

Metro Nashville Public Schools plan to resume regular school operations on Tuesday, February 3.

However, East Nashville Magnet Middle will temporarily co-locate to East Nashville Magnet High School for the remainder of the week.

Power was restored late Sunday. Co-location for the remainder of the week will allow our team to swiftly complete all restoration efforts to ensure the building is ready for students and staff due to a broken pipe.

Students will continue their regular schedule, with pickup and drop-off now occurring at the high school which is on the same campus.

Additional updates, inclement weather information, and citywide resources for families are available at mnps.org/weather.

Winter Storm Fern is believed to lead to the deaths of 5 people in Davidson County.

• Betty Doss, 79
• Francis Pilkington, 93
• Sharon Conyers, 46
• Almaquio Martinez Olivera, 39
• James H. Mitchell, 92

Causes of death in these cases are pending the Medical Examiner's findings.

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

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)

Since the transportation hotline started on Sunday, personnel from the Nashville Fire Department and the Metro Nashville Police Department have transported more than 1,324 people.

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.

• All Nashville Fire Stations are available as safe warming spots. The Nashville Fire Department operates 39 Fire Stations across Davidson County.
• Metro Police Precincts are available to the public for warming. These include North, West, Hermitage, Madison, South, Midtown Hills, and Southeast precincts.

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:

• Southeast Regional Community Center: 5260 Hickory Hollow Parkway, Suite 202, Antioch, TN 37013
• Madison Community Center: 550 N Dupont Avenue, Madison, TN 37115
• Nashville Fairgrounds: 401 Wingrove Street, Nashville, TN 37203
• Bellevue Community Center: 7638A Highway 70 South, Nashville, TN 37221

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.

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

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.

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

• Southeast Community Center: 63
• Madison Community Center: 71
• Fairgrounds Location: 305

Clients on Tuesday Overnight

• Southeast Community Center: 80
• Madison Community Center: 60
• Fairgrounds Location: 450

Clients on Wednesday Overnight

• Southeast Community Center: 58
• Madison Community Center: 65
• Nashville Fairgrounds: 279
• Margaret Allen Middle School: 11

Clients on Thursday Overnight

• Southeast Community Center: 63
• Madison Community Center: 67
• Nashville Fairgrounds: 258
• Bellevue Community Center: 1

Clients on Friday Overnight

• Southeast Community Center: 114
• Madison Community Center: 67
• Nashville Fairgrounds: 265
• Bellevue Community Center: 10

Clients on Saturday Overnight

• Southeast Community Center: 93
• Madison Community Center: 78
• Nashville Fairgrounds: 166
• Bellevue Community Center: 13

Clients on Sunday Overnight

• Southeast Community Center: 93
• Madison Community Center: 78
• Nashville Fairgrounds: 166
• Bellevue Community Center: 17

Medical care is available at all the Warming Shelters. Nashville Humane Association is providing pet support at shelters.

Officers from MNPD are staffing our shelters.

Nashville OEM encourages community members to check on neighbors, family members, and others who may need assistance during cold weather events.

Nashville Public Libraries

All NPL locations reopen on normal operating hours beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, February 3 (we had been on an adjusted schedule since Friday).

Green Hills branch remains closed - not for weather, but for renovation.

Main Library remains closed following June 10 fire in adjacent parking lot.

We continue to emphasize that Library locations are a place to get warm, charge phones, get on a computer and/or free Wi-Fi.

Metro Action Commission (MAC)

The Metropolitan Action Commission (MAC) announces the full reopening of all eight agency locations after temporary closures caused by Winter Storm Fern.

Beginning Monday, February 2, Metro Action team members will return to their worksites, and services for customers and students will resume in person.

Metro Action reminds residents that recovery from the storm will take time. Many households are still experiencing challenges such as power outages and financial strain due to missed work and other storm related issues. The agency encourages anyone in need of assistance to visit the Nashville Responds site for city wide resources and the for information on available programs, including rental assistance and other support services.

Residents seeking assistance with utilities or emergency assistance with housing expenses and other urgent matters, should visit the Metro Action site to access MACs online assistance application or follow us at MetroActionCommission on Facebook and Instagram for updates and community resources.

Nashville Office of Homeless Services

January 31 OHS Night Emergency Overflow

• 381 people for overnight sheltering
• 381 Hot meals, warm cots
• Pets
• Bus passes distributed
• Onsite medical and behavioral health triage

February 1 OHS Emergency Overflow Shelter

• 346 people for overnight sheltering
• 346 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 2 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.

Metro Overflow Shelter extended hours

• Monday, February 2 - The shelter will operate on extended hours, remaining open for 24 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.

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.

Stay informed

• Text the word OHSALERT to 888-777. We will text you each time Metro opens the shelter.
• Call 615-862-6391.
• Visit the websites below and other social media platforms: Nashville.gov/Homeless

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.

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