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A winter weather system began traveling through the state Sunday, Jan. 14, bringing dangerously cold temperatures and snow to Tennessee. We are expecting another round of wintery precipitation to move through the state tomorrow, Jan. 18. While temperatures are expected to reach above freezing tomorrow, they are expected to drop below freezing again on Friday moving into the weekend. These extremely cold temperatures across the region have increased the demand on the power system. Businesses and the public have been asked to reduce electric power use as much as possible without sacrificing safety. TVA has expressed their gratitude to consumers across the region for their energy conservation efforts thus far. On Jan. 17, TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan, on behalf of Governor Bill Lee, declared a State of Emergency to provide commercial vehicles transporting livestock, poultry, and feed for the livestock and poultry relief from hours of service until 3:59 p.m. Jan. 27. This declaration runs concurrent with the Jan. 13 State of Emergency that is providing commercial vehicles transporting fuel relief from hours of service also until 3:59 p.m. on Jan. 27.

A winter weather system began traveling through the state Sunday, Jan. 14, bringing dangerously cold temperatures and snow to Tennessee. On Jan. 13, TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan, on behalf of Governor Bill Lee, declared a State of Emergency to provide commercial vehicles transporting fuel relief from hours of service until 3:59 p.m. Jan. 27, due to the expected increase in demand for fuels and energy during the winter weather and extreme cold. The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville is activated at a Level 4 – Elevated with Emergency Service Coordinators from many state agencies supporting the ongoing situation. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) staff are assisting local officials with any needs or resource requests. The extremely cold temperatures across the region have increased the demand on the power system. Businesses and the public have been asked to reduce electric power use as much as possible without sacrificing safety. Temperatures are not expected to reach above freezing until at least Thursday.

A winter weather system began traveling through the state Sunday, Jan. 14, bringing dangerously cold temperatures and snow to Tennessee. On Jan. 13, TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan, on behalf of Governor Bill Lee, declared a State of Emergency to provide commercial vehicles transporting fuel relief from hours of service until 3:59 p.m. Jan. 27, due to the expected increase in demand for fuels and energy during the winter weather and extreme cold. The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville is activated at a Level 4 – Elevated with Emergency Service Coordinators from many state agencies supporting the ongoing situation. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) staff are assisting local officials with any needs or resource requests. The extremely cold temperatures across the region have increased the demand on the power system. Businesses and the public have been asked to reduce electric power use as much as possible without sacrificing safety. Temperatures are not expected to reach above freezing until at least Thursday.

Following the tornadoes and severe weather that impacted Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Weakley, and Wilson counties on Saturday, Dec. 9, TEMA has continued to coordinate with state and local partners to meet survivors’ most immediate needs. Cheatham, Gibson and Stewart counties have been named in the amendment of the Major Disaster Declaration to receive FEMA’s Individual Assistance. These counties are in addition to Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery and Sumner counties that were named in the approval of the Expedited Major Disaster Declaration on December 13. The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is February 12. Additionally, Public Assistance for Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, and Weakley counties has been requested.

Tornadoes and severe weather impacted Tennessee on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Affected counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Weakley, and Wilson counties. The National Weather Service has confirmed another tornado bringing the total tornado count to eight. The newest tornado is an EF1 in Clay County. This tornado is in addition to an EF3 in Montgomery County, an EF1 in Gibson/Weakley counties, an EF2 in Robertson County (Springfield), an EF2 in Dickson/Cheatham counties (White Bluff), an EF2 in Dickson County (Cumberland Furnace), an EF1 in Stewart/Montgomery counties, and an EF2 in Davidson/Sumner counties. TEMA is coordinating with state and local partners to meet survivors’ most immediate needs. Yesterday, December 13, Governor Bill Lee announced approval of his request of an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration, which will support survivors in Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, and Sumner counties impacted by the tornadoes and severe storms on December 9. This type of declaration allows assistance to be given to the communities that unmistakably meet FEMA disaster declaration requirements, while other counties whose damage may be harder to initially quantify work with FEMA to assess damages to be added to the declaration.

Tornadoes and severe weather impacted Tennessee on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Affected counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Weakley, and Wilson counties. The National Weather Service has concluded their surveying and the final tornado count is seven tornadoes, an EF3 in Montgomery County, an EF1 in Gibson/Weakley counties, an EF2 in Robertson County (Springfield), an EF2 in Dickson/Cheatham counties (White Bluff), an EF2 in Dickson County (Cumberland Furnace), an EF1 in Stewart/Montgomery counties, and an EF2 in Davidson/Sumner counties. TEMA is coordinating with state and local partners to meet survivors’ most immediate needs. To efficiently assist those who need it most, the Governor has requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration to be able to provide Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, and Sumner counties with Individual Assistance. TEMA and impacted counties are already working with FEMA to collect joint Preliminary Damage Assessments as the next step in FEMA’s declaration process, which validates and quantifies damage for all impacted counties.

Tornadoes and severe weather impacted Tennessee on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Affected counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Weakley, and Wilson counties. The National Weather Service has confirmed seven tornadoes. In addition to the EF-3 in Montgomery County and EF-1 in Gibson/Weakley counties that were reported yesterday, Dec. 11, an EF-2 in Robertson County (Springfield), an EF-2 in Dickson/Cheatham counties (White Bluff), an EF-2 in Dickson County (Cumberland Furnace), and an EF-1 in Stewart/Montgomery counties. The Davidson/Sumner survey is still underway, with preliminary EF-2 damage reported. The Natioal Weather Service continues to survey other areas to assess storm damage. TEMA is coordinating with state and local partners to fulfill resource requests and provide assistance.

Tornadoes and severe weather impacted Tennessee on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Affected counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Weakley, and Wilson counties. The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 Tornado in Gibson/Weakley County and an EF-3 Tornado in Montgomery County. The National Weather Service continues to survey other areas to assess storm damage. TEMA is coordinating with state and local partners to fulfill resource requests and provide assistance.

Tornadoes and severe weather impacted Tennessee on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Affected counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Weakley, and Wilson counties. The Storm Prediction Center’s Storm Reports are preliminarily reporting 13 tornadoes. The National Weather Service is sending out survey teams to assess storm damage. TEMA is coordinating with state and local partners to fulfill resource requests and provide assistance.

The state of Tennessee has taken a significant step towards safeguarding its communities and citizens from future disasters, as the update to the 2023 Tennessee State Hazard Mitigation Plan has received formal approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on October 3, 2023, and is effective until October 2028.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is proud to announce the latest addition to our team, Dillon Matthews, a distinguished veteran who is the first full-time hire to come out of Gov. Bill Lee’s Veteran Fellowship Program.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee is among 14 central and southern U.S. states coordinating the annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut drill on Thursday, Oct. 19, to raise awareness about the importance of earthquake preparedness.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to provide financial assistance to the State of Tennessee, local and tribal governments, and private nonprofit organizations under major disaster declaration FEMA-4742-DR-TN. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA) program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (Stafford Act).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to provide financial assistance to the State of Tennessee, local and tribal governments, and private nonprofit organizations under major disaster declaration FEMA-4735-DR-TN. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA) program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (Stafford Act).

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the approval of his federal disaster declaration request, making recovery assistance available to 10 counties as a result of the severe weather, straight-line winds, and tornadoes on August 7, 2023.