Bret Tuck, the owner of Brown’s Diner, purchased thousands of dollars of meat just before the ice storm hit.
Then they lost power.
After a few days, he was considering throwing all the food away. But instead, as WPLN’s Justin Barney reports on Instagram, he decided to throw a big ol’ party.
He cooked it all up on a propane-operated food truck out back. Burgers. Wings. Chili dogs. Fries. He served it all for free.
As the massive power outage drags on in Nashville (and the vibes seem to be changing from annoyed resignation to real frustration), businesses in Nashville have leaned into supporting the community in whatever way they can.
Justin tells me that Edley’s, Turnip Truck, Resting Burrito Face and Prince’s gave out free food to neighbors (among many others). Five Points Pizza donated 500 loaves of bread to the Nashville Rescue Mission. Pancake Pantry and Waldo’s gave out free meals to linemen fixing the electric lines.
A free lunch doesn’t ease the real pain of recovering from what Metro officials are calling the largest power outage in Nashville history. Nor does it stop me from obsessively refreshing the NES outage map and zooming in on my street.
But it helps to know that lots of people care.
WHAT TO KNOW
A linesman with the Nashville Electric Service is seen through an ice covered tree as he works to restore power Wednesday. Credit: George Walker IV / AP PhotoWPLN’s Cynthia Abrams is keeping you up-to-date on the latest briefings from Metro and NES. Here’s what she found out yesterday:
- Local nonprofits have launched a Winter Storm Recovery Fund. It will help families with supplies, cleanup and debris removal. Call 211 for support, text your zip code to 898211 to get help, or fill out the needs tracker at NashvilleResponds.com.
- The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation is working with hospitality companies to provide discounted hotel lodging for residents. Residents without internet access can call NCVC directly to access these options. Hospitality companies have provided resources. For info, call NCVC at 615-259-4700.
- The Nashville Electric Service continues to say it’s doing the best it can given the circumstances. It says more than 1,000 workers on power restoration, including workers from Nashville, the state, TEMA and the National Guard. “At the same time, it’s very important that we follow a vetting process that all utilities follow to keep workers safe,” says Brent Baker with NES. (This was, in part, in response to reports that NES turned away some crews.) The power company has restored 63% of outages so far.
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MORE TO KNOW
- Busted water pipes are still an active hazard in Nashville. Matt Newsom, owner of 100 Percent Plumbing, tells WPLN intern Seth Thorpe that if you still don’t have power, the freezing temperatures this weekend could cause frozen pipes — even if you keep your faucets at a drip. “Call a plumber and have them shut off your water main and drain the water from your home, including your water heater,” he recommends. So far, at least 30 water main breaks or suspected breaks have been reported in Nashville so far, according to the Metro Water Services Outages Map. Director Scott Porter said more breaks may become obvious as the ice thaws. Call 615-862-4600 if you see a main break.
- Middle Tennessee parents are tired. Students in Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Cheatham and Williamson Counties have been home from school all week. (Students in Wilson County returned to class today.) MNPS spokesperson Sean Braisted told WPLN’s Camellia Burris that MNPS has now used all of its available “inclement weather days” for the year, although the district has the option of seeking a state waiver of the 180-day classroom instruction requirement.
- Some public assistance is available. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has set up a Disaster Information Line to help residents connect to resources in affected counties. You can get assistance by calling the Tennessee Disaster Information Line at 1-844-4TENN-4U (1-844-483-6648).
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