Flash Report #5 Tornadoes and Severe Weather

Thursday, December 14, 2023 | 03:57pm

HIGHLIGHTS
• The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville is activated at a Level 3 – State of Emergency to support local requests.
• An Expedited Major Disaster Declaration has been approved for Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery and Sumner counties.
• Crisis Cleanup has been activated for the entire state. If you need assistance with damage from the tornadoes, call the home cleanup hotline (615-488-1875) for help. • Requests for assistance are being fulfilled.
• Emergency Service Coordinators (ESCs) from TDOT, TDCI, TDH, THP, TN Department of Human Services, and more are monitoring the situation and standing by to provide assistance to local jurisdictions.
• Tdap and Flu vaccines will be offered by the Department of Health to first responders and individuals impacted by the tornadoes at no charge beginning Wednesday, Dec. 13, at specific county health departments.
• Fees have been waived until December 31, 2023, for Certified Copies of Vital Records in the tornado-affected counties.
• Debris removal operations are underway and damaged areas should be avoided to avoid hindering operations for safety.

CURRENT SITUATION
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.

POWER OUTAGES & UTILITIES
• As of 1:00 p.m. on Dec.14, there are 1,400 reports of power outages statewide, down from a peak of 69,674 on Dec. 9.
o The current number of outages is typical of a “normal” day in Tennessee.

SHELTERS
• Several shelters, both American Red Cross managed and Independently Operated, have been opened to assist affected Tennesseans.
    o Northeast High School, 3701 Trenton Road, Clarksville, TN  37040, American Red Cross Managed
    o Madison Community Center, 550 North Dupont Avenue, Madison, TN 37115, American Red Cross Managed
    o New Providence United Methodist, 1317 Fort Campbell Blvd, Clarksville, TN 37042, Independently Operated
    o Dickson YMCA, 225 Henslee Drive, Dickson, TN 37055, Independently Operated

TDH
• The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed six weather-related fatalities, three in Montgomery County and three in Davidson County.
• Fees have been waived until December 31, 2023, for Certified Copies of Vital Records in the tornado-affected counties: Cheatham, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner and Weakley.
• The Department of Health will be offering free Tdap and Flu vaccines to first responders and individuals impacted by the recent tornadoes.
o Vaccines will be offered at Cheatham, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, and Weakley counties health departments.
o Individuals will need to self-identify as a first responder or impacted by the tornadoes. o There will be no charge to the individuals.

TDOT
• TDOT is continuing to monitor road conditions across the state and assist with debris removal on state routes and state right of way. Current road closures include:
    o SR 45 (Old Hickory Blvd) has one lane open in each direction.
    o SR 6 (Davidson) closures between Westchester Drive and Roosevelt Avenue.
    o SR 6 (Sumner County) has intermittent lane closures for electric work in area.
    o SR 11 (Dickerson Pike) is open.

PROTECTIVE ACTIONS/KEY MESSAGES
• Do not enter damaged buildings or hazardous locations.  • Hire only licensed contractors and do not pay the total amount before the work is complete. More tips for consumers after a disaster can be found here.
• Avoid downed power lines.
• If your house or property sustained damage, take pictures before cleanup efforts and contact your insurance company. TDCI’s Complaint line for insurance: (615) 741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.
• Contact your local emergency management agency if you need immediate assistance.
• Crisis Cleanup is active for the whole state. If you need assistance with damage from the tornadoes, call the home cleanup hotline (615-488-1875) for help.

FORECAST
• Memphis: Clear skies and high temperatures in the lower 60s. Easterly winds up to 10mph. Overnight low temperatures in the upper 30s.
• Nashville: Clear skies and high temperatures in the lower 60s. Easterly winds up to 5mph. Overnight low temperatures in the lower 30s.
• Knoxville: Clear skies and high temperatures in the upper 50s. Northeasterly winds up to 10mph. Overnight low temperatures in the upper 20s with a few clouds.
• Chattanooga: Clear skies and high temperatures in the lower 60s. Northeasterly winds up to 10mph. Overnight low temperatures in the lower 30s.