The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) reports that the Department of Health has confirmed six weather-related fatalities. Two in Shelby County, one in Hickman County, one in Madison County, and two in Washington County, from the winter system that began traveling through the state on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. The Department of Health did not immediately identify the victims or details on their deaths.
The entire state has been impacted by extreme winter weather and the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville is activated at a Level 4- Elevated to support local requests.
On Saturday, January 13, TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan, on behalf of Governor Bill Lee, declared a State of Emergency to provide commercial vehicles transporting fuel a temporary hour of service waiver until 3:59 p.m. Jan. 27, due to the expected increase in demand for fuels and energy during the winter weather and extreme cold.