A series of updates from the weekend on NES, the weather, MNPS and housing.
Image Credit: Martin B. Cherry / Nashville Banner
***Note from The Tennessee Conservative – this article posted here for informational purposes only.
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by Mikeie Honda Reiland and Stephen Elliott, [The Nashville Banner, Creative Commons] –
Over the weekend, Mayor Freddie O’Connell carved out further distance between Metro and Nashville Electric Service when he chastised the utility in scathing press releases on Saturday and Sunday.
At 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, for the first time since the start of the ice storm that has shut down the city for the past week, NES released projected timelines for when locals could expect their power back. They projected 85 percent restoration by yesterday, 90 percent by Tuesday, and 99 percent by Feb. 8, with total restoration by Feb. 9.
NES is also providing ongoing estimates by ZIP code and a web-based tool to track power status at your home. To use the tool, start typing your address and wait for a dropdown menu to appear before selecting the right option.
NES’ projections circulated in group chats and on social media. The Feb. 9 completion date was the part that bothered locals the most. In response, around 6 p.m. Saturday, O’Connell released a statement.
“This afternoon, I spoke with NES CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin and Board Chair Anne Davis and expressed to both that the proposed pace of restoration is unacceptable,” the statement read, in part. “Nashvillians deserve better. I’ve summoned NES leadership to my office tomorrow for a full briefing to understand what barriers exist to getting power fully restored faster.”
On Sunday evening, after meeting with NES leadership, O’Connell put out another statement.
“Today, I and members of the mayor’s office staff and other key Metro leaders met with NES leadership to reiterate: neither the pace of power restoration nor the communications surrounding it has met my expectations. Nor those of Nashvillians,” he wrote, in part.
“What I learned today is that NES is unequipped to communicate about a crisis. Nashvillians can’t get the last week back — nights huddled under blankets, unplanned shelter or hotel stays, the uncertainty and fear of not knowing what’s happening and how long it will take to simply return home.”
O’Connell said that if NES had provided earlier information about their internal outlook, it would’ve affected Metro’s public guidance. He also said NES anticipates adding 500 additional linemen by Monday night.
According to the latest NES release on Saturday night, power has been restored to 183,800 customers, with 46,200 still waiting.
NES is run by the Electric Power Board, a five-member group appointed by Nashville’s mayor. Two members have been appointed during O’Connell’s term. Cracks appeared in the relationship on Thursday, when Metro and NES held separate press conferences for the first time throughout the storm and O’Connell called for better communication from the utility.
On Friday, O’Connell reiterated that plea.
“I think they understand … that we have also been frustrated, like the city, with their response,” he said.
Gov. Bill Lee echoed that sentiment in a statement released Friday.
“I have shared my strong concerns with NES leadership, as well as my expectation that both communication with their customers and power restoration efforts must improve,” Lee said.
The governor said he speaks with O’Connell daily.
Later Friday afternoon, NES leaders held a press briefing in a Madison neighborhood where multiple crews were working to replace broken poles and restore power.
Several residents gathered near the press conference and asked questions of their own. One was 59-year-old Terry Miles, who lives down the street and said he, his wife and dogs have remained in their home without power. His powerline is in a small, undeveloped alley, and he questioned why NES had not done more over the years to build out the alley or move their power to the road in front for easier repair access.
Miles said his home has been so cold that drinks froze. He is using a fish fryer for intermittent heating.
“I got a fish fryer and I got a big tank,” he said. “I know it’s carbon monoxide and it’ll kill you, but I have to burn it for 30 minutes and leave it off for an hour. That’s the only way we can heat anything. I’m taking a chance to kill myself and kill my wife right now.”
He said he didn’t want to leave his dogs behind, though warming shelters are accepting pets.
“This is the coldest and worst I’ve ever been in my damn life,” Miles said.
Weather update
Highs will get and remain above freezing this week, even approaching 50 degrees on Tuesday, which should help melt the remaining snow and ice.
A Cold Weather Advisory is in place until noon Monday, when temperatures should reach the low 40s.
There is some precipitation in the forecast in the middle of the week.
“The bulk of the precipitation on Wednesday appears to be rain,” the National Weather Service’s Nashville office said, “though some wraparound moisture could occur behind the cold front Wednesday night that could support a changeover to snow flurries into Thursday morning. Too early to say for certain at this point.”
Housing offers
Locals can request temporary housing by dialing 211.
Temporary housing is available through discounted stays via the short-term rental company Vrbo. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. has also compiled a list of local hotels offering discounted stays.
Airbnb originally partnered with the United Way to offer free temporary housing but is now at capacity.
The city continues to operate four warming shelters with overnight accommodations and access to food at the following locations. If you need transportation to a shelter, call 615-401-1712.
- Southeast Regional Community Center (5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy #202)
- Madison Community Center (550 N Dupont Ave)
- Nashville Fairgrounds (625 Benton Ave)
- NEW: Bellevue Community Center (7638 A Hwy 70 S)
The Bellevue Community Center has replaced the previous shelter at Margaret Allen Middle School in Donelson.
All 39 Metro fire stations are open 24/7 as warning shelters. Here’s a list and a map of their locations. All Metro police precincts, except East and Central, are open 24/7 as well. None offer sleeping accommodations but they are open overnight.
New garbage pickup schedule
If your garbage is normally collected Thursday, put your carts out today — the city is running its final makeup day from the storm for Thursday routes.
NWS’ new garbage collection schedule goes into effect Tuesday. Pickups will no longer happen on Mondays, which will be used for fleet maintenance, training and holiday makeup dates.
People who are used to Tuesday through Friday pickups may also have a new collection day. Metro said they are changing the schedule to optimize route efficiency and allow the city to electronically track collection trucks.
You can look up your new collection day here.
Scams to watch out for
NES said that storm profiteers are going door-to-door asking homeowners to pay $2,200 to fix damaged weatherheads, power masts and meter bases — electrical equipment that NES does not pay for that must be operational to restore power.
NES advised people to only hire licensed electricians and contractors, get a second opinion and avoid paying cash or sending a wire transfer from your doorstep. NES said $2,200 is an “extreme markup,” adding that actual contractors will provide written estimates as opposed to immediately demanding cash.
Wildcatters offering tree removal have also descended upon the city. In some neighborhoods, after securing down payments, scammers have disappeared with the cash. Be wary of any door-to-door sale at this point.
Ways to help
While many volunteer opportunities took place over the weekend, there are several ongoing ways to help people affected by the storm. You can find a list here.
Over the weekend, Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) phone banked to connect with locals in the cold. Since the start of the storm, TIRRC has reached 3,000 people, identifying needs and connecting them with resources.
On Saturday, 30 volunteers made 3,283 calls. On Sunday, 89 volunteers knocked on more than 600 doors, distributing about 1,000 meals throughout South Nashville and Madison, bringing the total since the beginning of the storm to nearly 6,000 meals.
For future volunteer opportunities, you can follow TIRRC on social media.
