NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has declared a state of emergency as a major snow event is expected across the Volunteer State.
Technically, Tennessee was already under a Level 3 —State of Emergency after Hurricane Helene devastated portions of East Tennessee but as of Wednesday, the state will be categorized under the Level 4 — Elevated, which is preparation for the likelihood of an emergency developing or worsening.
TEMA encouraged all Tennesseans to take the time now to prepare ahead of the expected snow and winter weather across the state. All of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky is under a Winter Storm Warning beginning early Friday.
Residents are asked to stock up on groceries, medications and supplies and to stay home if possible.
The snow will ramp up late Friday morning and continue steadily through the afternoon, winding down in the evening. Portions of Middle Tennessee could receive between three to six inches of accumulation. Travel will be impacted through the weekend.
Multiple agencies across Middle Tennessee have prepared for the upcoming winter weather.
Streets have been pre-treated in Nashville, and the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) told News 2 workers will be on standby to salt and plow roadways when snow comes in Friday morning. NDOT has 40 snow plows ready. Follow this link to view a searchable map of NDOT’s snow routes, which lists primary, secondary and post-secondary priority routes.
There are warming centers across the state for Tennesseans who may need a warm place to stay. Click here for an interactive map of shelters.
Public works and utility crews are prepared and ready to tackle any issues that come up during the anticipated winter storm, but there are steps you can take indoors to keep weather-related emergencies from happening.
Clarksville Gas & Water recommends the following winter weather preparation tips:
- Close foundation air vents
- Unhook hoses from faucets and yard meters
- Open sink cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate around pipes—especially those located on exterior walls
- Allow your sink faucets to drip a trickle of water to prevent your pipes from freezing
Nashville Electric Service (NES) also has tips to help homeowners and renters save money during severe winter weather, including taking advantage of natural sunlight when possible and changing air filters.
Pack and emergency kit if you do not already have one. Those kits should include:
- Water and non-perishable food items for at least three days
- Battery-powered light source such as a flashlight, LED lantern, or LED candles
- Fully charged portable phone charger
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Emergency telephone numbers
- Whistle signal for help
- Local maps
- Blankets or battery-operated fans, depending on the climate
- Individual needs for infants, seniors, pets, or family members with unique health conditions
A state of emergency expires when either 60 days has elapsed or when the Activation Level returns to Level 5.
Don’t forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app.
