The Nashville Office of Emergency Management is enacting a Virtual Activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate resources and information during an expected winter weather event over the next few days.
During the virtual activation emergency service coordinators and leaders will remain in contact from remote locations as opposed to reporting directly to the EOC. However, this can change depending on weather conditions and the impact it is having on the community.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Winter Storm Warning for Middle Tennessee. A Winter Storm Warning indicates that heavy snow of at least 6 inches in 12 hours, or at least 8 inches in 24 hours, is expected. It can also be issued if sleet accumulation will be at least half an inch.
According to NWS, A winter storm is expected to impact Middle TN Friday with 4 to 7 inches of snow. There is a high chance for travel impacts Friday and into Saturday.
The Nashville Fire Department (NFD) is operating as usual. NFD’s Logistics Division has issued salt and tire chains to every fire station and every piece of equipment.
Logistics also has an inclement weather plan for the delivery of fire and EMS supplies.
Major travel issues are expected by late morning and into the afternoon. While snow will come to an end Friday night, travel impacts will likely remain into Saturday.
Metro Nashville Police Department School Resource Officers (SROs) will be assisting the eight precincts with call volume on Friday. In preparation for the predicted storm, Traffic Division officers have been working with TDOT to clear the interstates of abandoned vehicles so TDOT trucks can properly prep and then plow the Davidson County interstate system as appropriate.
The MNPD today released a video with information about driving in winter weather. That video can be accessed via the X platform at this link:
Nashville Police Department Snow Day Video
NDOT crews have been pre-treating primary, secondary, and post-secondary routes for the past 48 hours and crews are on call for tomorrow’s weather event. NDOT is monitoring weather conditions and ready to respond.
For more information on NDOT’s winter weather response, visit www.nashville.gov/snow
NDOT administrative offices will be closed on Friday, January 10 and office personnel will be working remotely. NDOT employees will still be accessible via email and telephone.
NDOT will be updating social media throughout the event:
- Nashville DOT on Twitter
- Nashville DOT on Instagram
- Nashville DOT on Nextdoor
- Nashville DOT on Facebook
It is important you take precautions during this weather event both at home and when traveling along roadways.
For important safety information and weather updates sign up for the Metro Emergency Alert and Notification System. (MEANS) It is free to download.
Changes to Metro Nashville Davidson County Operations
Scroll through list below.
Non-Essential Metro Employees are not required to report for work on Friday, January 10, 2025, due to the expected inclement weather. Employees should check with their respective departments.
Department of Emergency Communications (DEC)
- Operational Adjustments: DEC has made necessary preparations and operational adjustments to ensure coverage for the anticipated winter weather event. This includes activating members of our Nashville Telecommunicator Emergency Response Team (NTERT) to provide additional support for the expected increase in call volume and field responder activities.
- Commitment to Support: DEC remains fully committed to supporting our response partners and the city during this event.
- 911 should only be used to report life-threatening and in-progress (occurring now) emergencies.
- Situations that do not pose an immediate threat to life or property, or that are not in-progress emergencies, should be reported via hubNashville. Requests can be submitted 24/7 at hub.nashville.gov, through the hubNashville 311 app, or by calling 311.
- hubNashville will be open for calls from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow. Requests can be submitted 24/7 at hub.nashville.gov or the hubNashville 311 app.
Metro Waste Services
Due to the severe winter weather, trash and recycling collection services will not be provided on Friday. In addition, all Metro convenience centers will be closed on Friday and Saturday; with plans to resume regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, January 14.
On Monday, January 13, depending on the weather, trash collection services will resume as scheduled and as a make-up day for customers impacted by the storm on Friday. Residents are kindly asked to hold their recycling until their next scheduled collection day; or drop off their recycling, free of charge at any of the nearby Metro convenience centers or recycling drop off locations. Residents are encouraged to place their trash cart out the night before their collection day and download the Nashville Waste & Recycling Ap to receive service alerts. We apologize for the inconvenience but must place the safety of our community and employees first.
WeGo Transit
Due to forecasted winter weather, WeGo Public Transit buses and WeGo Access service will be operating on a Saturday schedule on Friday, January 10. The WeGo Star, Star shuttles (routes 64 Star Downtown Shuttle and 93 Star West End Shuttle), and bus routes 9 MetroCenter, 41 Golden Valley, and 84 Murfreesboro will operate their normal schedules. All other regional bus service will not run on Friday.
As road conditions change, WeGo may make further adjustments to its operating schedule. Access customers may experience delays as Operators navigate roads. If conditions are unsafe affected customers will be notified. Safety is our number one priority, so please be aware that there may be additional delays as bus operators are proceeding cautiously. We ask that you allow for additional travel time so we can help get you where you need to go safely.
Customers should check one of the mobile real-time information tools such as Google Transit or the Transit App. The Transit App can be downloaded in your app store. Follow WeGo Public Transit on social media (@WeGoTransit) and visit WeGoTransit.com for continuous updates.
General Sessions Court
Due to forecasted inclement weather, all dockets and operations of General Sessions Court except for Night Court will be closed on Friday, January 10. This includes all jail dockets. General Sessions employees should not report to work.
Election Commission
On Friday, the Election Commission office will be closed to walk-in traffic and all staff will be working remotely. Calls to our main line 615-862-8800 will be answered 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., as will email communication to [email protected]
Metro Clerk’s Office
The Metro Clerk’s Office will be closed on Friday, January 10, 2025. Staff will be working remotely.
The Offices of the Circuit Court Clerk
The Offices of the Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit Court Clerk's Office, General Sessions - Civil Division, Probate Clerk's Office, Traffic Violation Bureau, and the Resource Center) will be closed for in-person processing on Friday, January 10, 2025, due to inclement weather. Our team will work remotely to assist with filings and customer inquiries. Additionally, e-filing remains available 24/7 for your convenience.
General Sessions-Civil
Attorneys will need to reset their cases in 1A,1B.
Traffic Violation Bureau
Please note that payments can be made online in our citation portal: Pay Traffic Ticket
See Specific Court information below.
Circuit Courts and Probate
- 1st - Dockets continued
- 2nd - Dockets continued
- 3rd - Dockets continued - Third Circuit 1/10/2025 Docket Update
- 4th - Fourth Circuit Court Information
- 5th - No Friday docket
- 6th - No hearings
- 7th - Probate Dockets
- 8th - Dockets continued
General Session Civil Courts
Due to forecasted inclement weather, all dockets and operations of General Sessions Court except for Night Court will be closed on Friday, January 10. This includes all jail dockets. Our employees should not report to work.
Office of the Metro Nashville Public Defender
Nashville Defenders Public Defender Office is closed on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Metro Nashville-Davidson County Office of Family Safety
Both the Family Safety Center and Jean Crowe Advocacy Center will be open; however, full remote advocacy services are available during normal business hours. We recommend clients call 615-880-1100 rather than come in.
The Jean Crowe Advocacy Center will close if the courts close for the day.
After hour services at the Family Safety Center are filled by AGAPE and is currently TBD on whether services are available after hours and this weekend.
Metro Public Health Department
The Metro Public Health Department will close all clinics and location to the public on Friday, January 10. Metro Animal Care and Control will also be closed to the public all day Friday. Animal Control Officers will respond to calls for service if conditions allow them to do so safely.
Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency
MDHA offices will be closed Friday, January 10, due to the forecasted winter weather and road conditions. MDHA residents who need to report a maintenance emergency before the agency reopens should call their property office and listen for the prompt.
Metro Parks Department
Out of an abundance of caution and safety for our patrons and employees, all Metro Parks’ facilities will be closed tomorrow, Friday, January 10. Facilities will also remain closed on Saturday, January 11 due to ongoing hazardous travel conditions.
Metro Office of Homeless Services/Extreme Cold Weather Shelter
Currently, we are preparing to open at 7:00 p.m. this week and operating on extended hours, closing at 10:00 a.m. each day.
- Thursday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m.
- Friday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m.
To find out if the overflow shelter is open on other nights:
- Text the word OHSALERT to 888-777. We will text you each time Metro opens the shelter.
- Call 615-862-6391.
- Visit the websites below and other social media platforms:
www.Nashville.gov/Homeless
Transportation to Shelter:
Please arrive at WeGo Central at 6:30 p.m. People downtown can catch the #23B bus to the shelter from WeGo Central at 400 Charlotte Ave. People should go downstairs to the lower level at WeGo Central and wait at Bay 24 for the #23B bus. Both the number and letter are important: Bus passes given out in the morning is good for All Day Rides.
Metro Social Services
MSS office and phone line will be closed, Friday, January 10, 2025. We will monitor the weather to determine our office and phone hours for Monday, January 13, 2025.
Metro Nashville Finance Department
Finance is operating as normal. Personnel will be working from home Friday, January 10.
Nashville Public Libraries
All Nashville Public Library locations will be closed Friday January 10, 2025.
Metro Arts
Metro Arts will have a remote workday tomorrow, Friday, January 10, 2025.
Metro Action Commission
Here are the details of the Metro Action Commission operational changes for Friday:
MAC Head Start and Early Head Start pre-school centers:
The agency’s Head Start and Early Head Start pre-school centers will be closed. Team members will be working remotely to assist parents with emergency resources if needed.
MAC main office location/headquarters:
The agency's main office location will be closed. Team members will be working remotely to address requests for help with utility payments and emergency assistance with rent and mortgage payments. Customers can reach the agency through the call center by dialing 615-862-8860 or by emailing the agency at [email protected].
If weather conditions allow, Metro Action will reopen on Monday, January 13.
Nashville Planning Department
With incoming inclement winter weather, the Nashville Planning Department offices will operate on a fully remote schedule on Friday, January 10. If you have any questions, please contact staff directly via email or call 615-862-7190.
Metro Water Services
Due to the severe winter weather, trash and recycling collection services will not be provided on Friday. In addition, all Metro convenience centers will be closed on Friday and Saturday; with plans to resume regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, January 14.
On Monday, January 13, depending on the weather, trash collection services will resume as scheduled and as a make-up day for customers impacted by the storm on Friday. Residents are kindly asked to hold their recycling until their next scheduled collection day; or drop off their recycling, free of charge at any of the nearby Metro convenience centers or recycling drop off locations. Residents are encouraged to place their trash cart out the night before their collection day and download the Nashville Waste & Recycling App to receive service alerts. We apologize for the inconvenience but must place the safety of our community and employees first.
Metro Water Services (MWS) has also suspended scheduled water main work so that repair crews can focus on potential water emergencies in the distribution system.
We also encourage homeowners to protect their pipes. Water expands when it freezes, and frozen pipes are at risk of breaking. If properties experience a frozen or broken pipe, they should contact a plumber as MWS is unable to respond to private plumbing issues.
Preparing for Winter Weather
Information from Metro Water Services
Pipes that freeze most frequently are:
- Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and backflow preventers.
- Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.
- Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.
How to prevent frozen pipes:
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Close vents to crawl spaces to protect pipes and cover outdoor spigots.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
- When the weather is very cold outside, let water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
- Insulate backflow preventers and provide a heater, if necessary.
How to safely thaw a frozen pipe:
- If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
- Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
- Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
- Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
- Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.
Locate you water shut off valve:
- The ability to quickly close this valve may prevent further damage to your home in the event one of your interior pipes burst.
- The shut-off valve may be in the basement, under the kitchen sink, in a utility closet, near the hot water heater, or even under your home in a crawl space.
- If you think you have found it, be sure to test it.
- If you cannot locate your inside shut-off valve or do not have one installed, we recommend that you contact your plumber.
Additionally, when temperatures rise, an increase in water main breaks caused by ground shift is anticipated. Potential water main breaks should be reported to MWS as soon as possible to 615-862-4600. If water is seen bubbling up in a roadway or flowing in an unusual place, or residents experience a water outage or unexplained low pressure, it may be the result of a broken water main. Current break investigations or active break repairs can be viewed on the MWS Outage map at Metro Water Services Outage Map | Nashville.gov.
Other Winter Weather Tips
Get supplies before the weather:
- Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
- Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication.
- Remember the needs of your pets.
- Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
- If you are unable to afford your heating costs, weatherization, or energy-related home repairs, contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help.
Heating Safety:
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
- Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
- Never use your oven to heat your home.
- Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
- Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
- Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
- Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
Portable Generator Safety:
- Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust by operating your generator outside for proper ventilation.
- Never refuel your generator when it is running. Let it cool down first.
- Do not store fuel in a garage, basement or inside your home. Vapors can be released that can cause illness and are a potential fire hazard.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector inside your home to warn you in case of a gas leak.
- Never hook up a generator directly to your home's electrical service or wiring. This can cause back feeding and poses a serious risk to NES line workers.
- Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
Driving Safety:
- You should be careful when traveling on roadways. Freezing rain, sleet, black ice, and fog are all hazards to be aware of when driving.
- You can check current road conditions online on the TDOT Smartway Map.
- If weather reports indicate icy conditions, consider staying off the roads until they are clear.
- Black ice is highly transparent, so it is hard to see while driving.
- Tips that may help if you get caught in areas of black ice:
- Keep your steering wheel straight. If you turn the wheel, you have a better chance of sliding and losing control of your vehicle.
- Do not brake. Braking causes the vehicle to slide, especially if you brake too hard.
- Take your foot off the accelerator to reduce speed. It is best to let the car stop on its own if you have enough room in front of you.
Protect your Pets:
- Bring your furry friends inside when temperatures take a dip! More pet prep tips: ready.gov/pets
- Wipe dog’s paws after each trip outside. Ice-melting chemicals or rock salt can cause irritation, sickness or be fatal.
- Your pet may think antifreeze is sweet, but it can be deadly. Find out more: humanesociety.org
Prepare now for lost power:
- #WinterStorms can cause power outages prepare now: ready.gov/power-outages
- Plan to check on neighbors if extreme cold or winter weather knocks out your power.
- Power Outage tip: Dim the brightness in your cell phone settings to save battery life.
- NES Power Outage Center
Other Resources
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