Flash Report #11 – 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
• TEMA has created a survey to self-report damages to homes as a result of Winter Storm Fern.Report your damages.
• The Tennessee Department of Health has reported 25 weather-related fatalities as a result of 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
• Governor Bill Lee announced he requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for 23 impacted counties.
• ALERT: Several Tennessee residents are receiving text messages, phone calls, and emails falsely claiming to be from TBI and 1-800-TBI-FIND as part of a suspected scam related to the recent winter storm. TBI will never ask for money or financial account information at the hotline.
• Hotlines Available: The TBI Hotline (1-800-TBI-FIND) remains active as a centralized, statewide resource for storm-related wellness 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

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency continues to urge Tennesseans whose homes have been damaged due to Winter Storm Fern to report their damages through TEMA’s Damage Assessment Survey. Examples of reportable damage include burst pipes, water damage, and trees that have fallen on your home. These survey results are a critical step in the validation process for FEMA Individual Assistance but does not guarantee assistance.

Through a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal partners, cut-and-toss crews continue to cut fallen trees on priority roads identified by local jurisdictions to expedite road clearing to allow utility companies access to power to those still without power.

Resources and assistance information continue to be added to TEMA’s webpage as they become available. The State of Tennessee remains committed to keeping the public informed throughout the response and recovery process.

To date, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has provided 34,982 cases of water, seven pieces of equipment that are on scene, 310 cots, and 1,000 handwarmers to fulfill identified requests made by locals.

POWER OUTAGES

• As of 4:30 p.m. on February 2, more than 25,700 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 are locally managed, and availability varies by location. Residents should visit 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.

Tennessee Department of Transportation

This is a statewide, coordinated response, and every region is engaged. These figures help illustrate the scale of the effort:

• Equipment Hours: 69,000
• Labor Hours: 136,000
• Salt: 101,000 tons
• Brine: 1.8 M gallons
• Miles: 812,000+
• Incidents: 4,777+
• Local Requests Completed through TEMA: 352
• Trees: Thousands

Before you get on the road, check road conditions on the TDOT Smartway website.

 

Tennessee National Guard

 

• Guardsmen are performing missions in nine counties that include Davidson, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Macon, McNairy, Perry, Shelby, and Wayne counties. Many of these National Guard teams have partnered with their respective county Emergency Management Agencies and the U.S. and Tennessee Forestry Services to open roadways and restore power to Tennesseans.
• Soldiers with Chattanooga’s 35^th Division Sustainment Brigade also continue to perform health and wellness checks and are assisting at a local warming center in Perry County.

 

Tennessee Highway Patrol

 

THP continues to respond to traffic crashes and provide assistance to stranded motorists. From January, 24, 2026 to February 2, 2026, troopers have assisted with:

• 2,966 motorists assisted
• 396 lane blockages
• 441 Abandoned vehicles checked
• 6,813 phone calls into dispatch

Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry has 130 personnel deployed in the 10 storm-affected counties, where they continue to clear roads of trees and debris.

 

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

 

TWRA wildlife managers, officers, technicians, and radio crews stepped up and collaborated with other state agencies to meet urgent needs, including:

• Assisting with clearing over six miles of road to provide full access to the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) Hinch Mountain tower site in Cumberland County.
• Clearing trees and debris for road access at the Slayden Radio Tower in Dickson County and the Smyrna Street Department in Robertson County.
• Clearing 13 miles of roadway and cut 200 trees in Lewis County.
• Assisting Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) in clearing roads throughout Hickman County.
• Deploying a 12-person crew with chainsaws, skid steers, and UTVs to help with clearing roads in Perry County.
• Conducting over a dozen wellness checks to protect vulnerable residents in various counties, including Cheatham, Hamilton, Lewis, Perry, Robertson, Sumner, Wayne, and Williamson.
• Assisting stranded motorists during hazardous conditions.

 

 

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 wellness 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 wellness check requests during this weather event.

To date, TBI has taken and closed 86 calls. The line remains open to help connect loved ones while power and cell phone connectivity is down in some areas.

ALERT: Several Tennessee residents are receiving communications (text messages, phone calls, and emails) purporting to be from TBI and 1-800-TBI-FIND. We suspect this may be a concerted effort to capitalize on the recent winter storm and scam residents. We will not call you from 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463) and will never ask for money. If you receive one of these calls, hang up and call us at 1-800-TBI-FIND, as your information may help us identify the source of these communications.

Davidson County Exception:
All wellness 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.

 

Tennessee 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 25 weather-related fatalities due to Winter Storm Fern:

o   Six fatalities in Shelby

o   Three fatalities in Davidson

o   Three fatalities in Knox

o   Two fatalities in Fayette

o   Two fatalities in Hardin

o   Two fatalities in Henderson

o   Two fatalities Hickman

o   Two fatalities in Obion

o   One fatality in Cheatham

o   One fatality in Dyer

o   One fatality in Haywood

The Tennessee Department of Health has also confirmed one weather-related fatality due to the separate winter weather that began impacting East Tennessee.

o   One fatality in Greene

 

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is reporting 30 systems with impacts. Residents should continue to monitor guidance from their local water system providers and remain alert for any protective actions that may be issued. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has created a real-time dashboard that lists all of the impacted water systems and any protective actions the water provider has issued.

 

Tennessee Department of Human Services

If you are a current recipient of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the Tennessee Department of Human Services is prepared to provided replacement SNAP benefits to current SNAP households who have suffered losses due to power outages of 12 hours or more. For more information, including necessary forms, please visit the Tennessee Department of Human Services website.

 

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.