Metro Social Services is continuing to monitor the weather and road conditions. Executive Director Renee' Pratt has also been in constant communication with OEM's Chief William Swann and MSS staff. As a result of that communication, Director Pratt has issued the following directives for MSS' Friday Winter Weather Plan:
Friday Plan
- The MSS office will reopen but on a 2-hour delay. Office hours will be 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- MSS main phone line will reopen and answered by staff in accordance with Friday snow hours mentioned above. Please call 615-862-6432 should there be a need or to request an appointment.
- Home Ambassadors will resume their regular daily meal delivery service to senior, disabled, and homebound clients.
- Senior Snow Welfare Calls were made today (Thursday February 19) despite our office being closed. Regular daily senior welfare calls will resume tomorrow (Friday).
- Burial services scheduled for Wed, February 19, were cancelled due to inclement weather. Regular Wednesday morning burials will resume Wed, February 26, 2025 at 9 a.m.
Precautions Taken Prior to the Snow System
Regular and Snow Meal Delivery
This service is specifically for our homebound clients in congregate settings and private residences. Clients include seniors and those who are disabled.
733 - meals delivered by our Home Ambassadors to our current clients as part of our regular weekly meal deliveries.
822 - Snow meal boxes were also delivered to current clients to carry them through the snow event, should the snow impact their access to food. The boxes can last up to one week. Food included does not require electricity to open or prepare.
Daily meal service was cancelled Wednesday and Thursday due to snow impacted roads.
Senior Welfare Calls: Level 2
This service is available to all of our senior and disabled clients – homebound and not. This is a new service we launched Fall, 2024.
214 - Calls were conducted by our social worker associates, checking on our senior and disabled clients. In addition to their general wellbeing, as part of the Level 2 status, staff asked weather specific questions such as: "Do you need us to get your prescriptions refilled before the storm?" "Is your heating system working properly?" If they had a need, staff was dispatched to immediately address their need.
Urgent Home Visits
This service is available to all of our clients, including homebound, should they have an urgent need.
2 – the number of home visits we made the day before the snow storm to clients for various critical needs.
Indigent Burials
This is a long-standing service MSS has provided Wednesday mornings for those in Davidson County who passed away without the financial means to pay for burial costs or those who have not had a loved one to claim their remains.
Burial services scheduled for Wed, February 19, are cancelled due to inclement weather. Regular Wednesday morning burials will resume Wed, February 26, 2025 at 9 a.m.
Communication with OEM
MSS' executive director Renee Pratt has been in close communication with Chief Swann, head of Nashville's Office of Emergency Management, monitoring the weather event. Additionally, Director Pratt has directed MSS department leadership to monitor the weather and follow our usual protocol of working closely with staff and other departments to ensure the safety of Nashville residents.