Winter Storm Causes Icy Roads, Power Outages, and Tree Damage in Tennessee & Kentucky
NASHVILLE,Tenn. (WZTV) — Hazardous icing from a major winter storm is creating treacherous travel conditions, widespread power outages, and falling trees across Middle Tennessee and parts of southern Kentucky.
Emergency agencies, utilities, and law enforcement departments across the region are urging residents to stay off the roads as freezing rain continues to accumulate on roadways, trees, and power lines.
Widespread Power Outages
As of 9:30 a.m., more than 198,000 customers are without power according to Nashville Electric Service (NES).
NES says their crews are currently assessing these outages and working as quickly and safely to restore power to customers as soon as possible.
middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) reported around 15,000 members without power as of 9 a.m., warning that restoration could take a long time due to severe damage to its system.
Damaged tree. (Photo MTE)
“We do have poles down in Williamson County, which could increase restoration times,” MTE said, adding that additional crews are being brought into the Franklin area to assist. The utility urged residents to stay off the roads and to assume any downed power line is live.
Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC) said about 28,000 members were without power due to heavy icing. Officials warned that even small amounts of ice can add extreme weight to power lines and trees, causing equipment failures and snapped limbs.
“One quarter inch of ice can add up to 500 pounds of weight to a power line,” CEMC said. “This type of damage takes longer to repair than a typical outage because ice physically breaks parts of the system.”
CEMC said crews are working in all five counties it serves and will continue until every member is restored.
Icy and Dangerous Roads
Local agencies across the region reported rapidly deteriorating road