Tune in to the livestream of the State of the State tonight at 6pm at WPLN 90.3 or stream on wpln.org.All of us at Nashville Public Radio continue to hold close our Middle Tennessee neighbors still without power, water or both. Being cold or displaced for over week will try anyone’s patience. (Some of us know this first hand.)
Fairly or not, frustration is growing with NES, who says that some Davidson County residents are likely to be without power for another week despite having over 1,100 linemen on the job. NES projects that 90% of residents will have power restored by Tuesday.
On Saturday, eleven Metro Council members signed a letter to the utility calling for a revision to its new zip-code based power restoration plan, which they say is misleading.
(A hat tip to this fiddle player attempting to lure an NES crew by playing the melody to Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman toward the street. I love this town.)
Weary Metro Schools families face at least one more day of inventing novel ways to fight cabin fever.
And let us not forget that at least four Nashvillians have lost their lives to this tragedy, with 21 confirmed deaths statewide. Sadly, this is one for the history books.
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I escaped the storm stress on a Montgomery County farm over the weekend, where the precipitation ratio had been more white stuff than wet stuff. (Still plenty of travel headaches but less destruction and fewer power outages.)
It was an especially stunning scene at night — a blanket of snow glowing under the full moon, with twinkling ice covered sprigs of grass that looked almost like blown glass poking through.
I attempted to capture this otherworldly phenomenon with limited success in the sunrise photo below.
WHAT TO KNOW
Roads were mostly clear of debris (and ice, thankfully), and neat stacks of limbs and logs lined the sidewalks. I can’t decide if this would be a good or bad time to go into the firewood business — lots of free inventory, but perhaps a dearth of demand?
Everyone should have a friend with a chainsaw — and the skill to use it without losing a limb. Mine happens to be the artist and semi-retired Hatch Show Print master printer Jim Sherraden.
While I had him, I thought it would be helpful — or at least amusing — to shoot a little chainsaw tutorial with Jim. It goes without saying, be careful! Chainsaws are not to be toyed with!
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On today’s episode of the NashVillagerpodcast with host Nina Cardona 🎙️
When will things finally warm up for Nashville? We’re ready for a major change in the weather. And ready or not, it’s time to widen our attention to take in more than just storm updates. Plus, the local news for February 2 and the lasting effects on our tree canopy.
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MORE TO KNOW
- Two of the storm-related deaths in Nashville have been attributed to carbon monoxide poisoningfrom running portable backup generators without proper ventilation. WPLN’s Catherine Sweeney reports that the Monroe Carrel Jr. Children’s Hospital has treated 49 children for carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, so people often don’t know they are being exposed to dangerous levels. Flu-like symptoms are an early indicator of carbon monoxide sickness.
- A relief program to provide emergency housing to people displaced by the storm in Nashville ended after less than a week. United Way of Greater Nashville announced its partnership with Airbnb is at capacity and no longer available. According to a United Way spokesperson, the program reached capacity less than 48 hours after it was announced on Friday, with 250 families signing up.
- Metro Nashville Public Schools has used its allotted inclement weather days for the year, and it’s converting a professional development day, normally reserved for teachers in mid-February, to restore heat and water in school buildings. Six schools were still without power Sunday afternoon.
- We will air live coverage of Gov. Bill Lee’s State of the State Address at 6pm tonight on 90.3 WPLN-FM and wpln.org, followed by some analysis from WPLN’s Marianna Bacallao.
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