NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Counties across Middle Tennessee are preparing for yet another snow event this week.
For many areas, agencies have barely had time to combat flooding concerns from this past weekend. Now, they must prepare for possibly several inches of snowfall.
In Rutherford County, their Emergency Management Agency (EMA) told News 2 they’re doing normal snow preps leading up to Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
Sumner County’s Highway Department had crews working on the President’s Day holiday to get ready to brine roadways beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“Our salt trucks [are] already loaded to go in certain areas, on the hillsides,” said Toby Ellis, Sumner County Highways Supervisor. “And trying to get them prepped and get everything done in a timely manner so that when the snow does get here, as long as we have 20 degrees or warmer, the snow will melt on the roadways.”
“We only have so many people, and the flooding was terrible. It’s difficult that we’re having something this soon, but we have great people and we’ll get it done,” Ellis added.
“We’re changing out of, at the Emergency Operation Center, from response to flooding and damage assessments, to response to a winter event. This is what we do,” said Ken Weidner, Sumner County’s EMA Director. “My big thing is planning. Plan ahead!”
Weidner said Sumner County EMA, along with many other Middle Tennessee emergency response agencies, will attend a briefing Tuesday morning with the National Weather Service; one final review of the storm that’s coming.
Over in Cheatham County, their EMA Director said crews are working to put chains on all their work vehicles, with TDOT brining their roadways today.
In addition, Dickson County EMA told News 2 their hourly snow briefings will begin Tuesday with their sheriff’s office, roads departments and the Weather Service.
“We’re just getting done with the rain, we got water receding, the ground is very saturated, so we hope that everybody takes the warnings that will come out,” said Dickson County Sheriff Captain Jennifer Caruthers. “We have extra guys that come in. The patrol division prepares for this ahead of time, they’re always thinking ahead. So they will have extra men and women out working tomorrow night, as the system moves in.”
News 2 reached out to the Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) about their snow preparations, but haven’t heard back as of publication.
Every official News 2 spoke with shared a sentiment heard every time there are snow conditions: if you don’t have to be on the roads, just stay home on Wednesday!
