January 29, 2026
Good Morning,
I wanted to provide an update on what we know at this time regarding the recent storm and our ongoing response efforts.
Commissioners Trost, Gardner, and I extend our sincere thanks to Mark, Charlotte, and Sydney for their outstanding work coordinating the City’s response to this catastrophic event. We are holding daily emergency meetings, and Mark’s regular communications have been informative and helpful.
I would also like to recognize Dan Beasley and the team from The Parke Company for their tireless efforts to clear our roadways. Dan takes his responsibility personally and we are fortunate to have him on our team. In addition to road clearing, his crews have helped create access routes to reach residents who were previously trapped. They are currently operating five crews, and we have added two more — including one with heavy equipment — to accelerate efforts to reopen roads. Please let us know if you need assistance.
One of the primary causes of delay has been downed power lines tangled in fallen trees. Our crews must wait for NES to make these areas safe before work can continue. Unfortunately, trees are still falling across roadways.
We have also requested additional police patrols from the West and Midtown precincts to support public safety.
Our preparation for winter weather began last February when we replenished 80 tons of salt in our reserves. We renewed our snow plowing and road-clearing contract with The Parke Company in July and had his crews ready and on standby ahead of the storm on Monday the 19th. However, the severity of the ice damage is beyond what anyone could have reasonably anticipated. The destruction across our city is both widespread and extensive.
While we have experienced severe storms and prolonged outages before, this event is unprecedented. At its peak, NES reported approximately 250,000 customers without power. As of last evening, that number had decreased to about 103,000. There are at least 380 broken utility poles across the service area, and many outage zones still affect 1,000 or more customers — including Forest Hills.
I had a productive conversation with Nashville Mayor O’Connell last night. I emphasized the seriousness of our situation and the urgent need for sustained support. I also shared our past experience of being among the last areas restored due to our topography — a situation we cannot afford to repeat given the current temperatures. I am encouraged that he is approaching this event with the seriousness it requires. Mayor O’Connell assured me that restoration efforts will continue in full force until 100% of customers have power restored.
NES currently has 930 lineworkers deployed, operating in rotating 16-hour shifts. Additional crews have arrived from Kentucky, Florida, Maryland, Indiana, Ohio, Mississippi, and other parts of Tennessee. There are also 215 vegetation management personnel assisting with debris and line clearance.
Local, state, and federal emergency declarations are now in place. Governor Lee has issued executive orders enabling the State and National Guard to assist. TDOT is supporting both NDOT and NES in their operations.
At this time, we are unable to provide reliable timelines for power restoration due to the unprecedented scale of damage. For some residents, restoration could take weeks. We are also monitoring additional infrastructure concerns, including water main breaks. I spoke with Scott Potter of Metro Water, who reports multiple main breaks already and expects more. These issues may influence whether you choose to shelter in place or seek alternate lodging.
Please continue to stay safe and check on your neighbors. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out — we are here to help. Carefully evaluate your situation and seek alternate lodging if necessary. Local hotels have been very accommodating and, in many cases, are not enforcing full reservation lengths if residents are able to return home sooner than expected. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mayor Lanson Hyde