TEMA FLASH REPORT #6 – Tornado and Severe Weather Event

HIGHLIGHTS

• The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Nashville remains activated with a State of Emergency in place in Tennessee.
• Tennessee has 24 confirmed storm-related fatalities.
• There are no damage totals to report currently as several counties remain engaged in debris removal, response, and life-safety operations
• Recovery resources to help with home and property clean up, shelters, and other assistance is being made available.
• TEMA is coordinating with partners to share guidance for debris removal.
• TEMA has created a recovery resource page for those affected by the severe weather.

CURRENT SITUATION

Tennessee remains in a State of Emergency following a line of severe weather that crossed the State overnight on Monday, March 2. Several counties in the West, Middle, and Upper Cumberland areas of Tennessee are working to clear debris, restore power, and provide shelters and other help to storm survivors.

Davidson, Wilson, and Putnam counties are among Tennessee’s hardest hit counties, with storm impacts, such as fallen trees, blocked roads, and State office closures, reported in Benton, Carroll, Fentress, Overton, and Smith counties.

FATALITIES

• At this time the Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 24 fatalities.
  • 18 fatalities in Putnam County
  • 3 fatalities in Wilson County
  • 2 fatalities in Davidson County
  • 1 fatality in Benton County
• Tennessee Department of Health is coordinating with local partners to provide resources

RECOVERY RESOURCES

• Debris Removal
  • Proper debris separation and safety is important for successful recovery efforts.
  • Be sure to wear heavy boots, work gloves, eye protection, long pants, and shirt to protect against injury when removing debris.
  • Do not handle broken chemical containers, remove debris that may destabilize structures, or accumulate debris near utilities.
  • Contact your insurance provider before removing any debris.
  • Refrigerators must be empty prior to disposal.
  • The graphic below provides guidance on how debris should be sorted on private property for local pick-up and removal.

Contractor Fraud

• As cleanup efforts begin, the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office wants to ensure that only legitimate businesses and charities are working alongside the many volunteers to clear debris, repair, and rebuild. Tips include:
  • Don’t fall for high pressure sales tactics; urgency is a red flag
  • Be wary of unknown out of state phone numbers
  • Before hiring a contractor, verify proper licensing: verify.tn.gov 

Crisis Cleanup Help Line - 1-800-451-1954

• A Crisis Cleanup Help Line is in place for Tennesseans who need help with muck-out, debris removal, and home cleanup from the recent statewide flooding. 
• The Crisis Cleanup Hot Line is a toll-free call to The number is staffed 24/7. Callers should be ready to provide their name and contact information, and a brief description of their issue, to the relief agency representative who answers the Hot Line.
• All services are free, but service is not guaranteed due to the expected overwhelming need.

Airbnb

• Airbnb’s host community in Tennessee are providing no-cost accommodations to Tennessee tornado and storm survivors who need somewhere to stay.
• Tornado survivors can visit www.airbnb.com/tntornado20 to find and book urgent, temporary accommodations in Airbnb’s Open Homes program.

Report Damage

• Notify your county emergency management agency about damages and issues, especially if you don’t have resources for repairs and need help. A list of county EMA contacts by region is available at www.tn.gov/tema/prepare/regional-ema-contacts.html

Give

• Financial donations are the best way to aid those in need after an emergency. Cash can be used immediately in response to a crisis and allows disaster relief organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when it’s needed.
• The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross is directly supporting flooding relief efforts in the State, https://www.redcross.org/local/tennessee.html.
• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has established a Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund: https://www.cfmt.org/story/middle-tennessee-emergency-response-fund/ to support flood-affected communities and non-profits.

Volunteer

• If you live in Tennessee and want to volunteer to help tornado survivors in Davidson County, please visit Hands On Nashville at https://www.hon.org/. 
• If you live in Tennessee and want to volunteer to help tornado survivors in other counties, please visit the Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (TN VOAD), https://tnvoad.shutterfly.com/.
• If you'd like to volunteer and you live outside of Tennessee, please visit the national site for the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, https://www.nvoad.org/

Generator Safety

• Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when a generator is not working or vented properly. Generators should always be used outside the home. Do not use a generator indoors or in partially enclosed spaces- including homes, garages, and crawl spaces - even those areas with partial ventilation.
• Do not or near open doors and windows. Using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide build-up in the home. Do not place the generator in front of open windows.

FORECAST

Memphis: Mostly cloudy with a high of 61 and a low of 47.

Nashville: Mostly cloudy. High of 63 and low of 42.

Knoxville:  Sunny with a high of 61 and a low of 44.