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Spring Storm Guide

Know Your Risks: Spring and Summer Weather Hazards 

Middle Tennessee is particularly prone to severe weather from March through August. We may see tornadoes, large hail, damaging straight-line winds (also known as derechos), and flash flooding, all of which can develop quickly and without much warning. Thunderstorm activity peaks in spring, and the Cumberland River and its tributaries make low-lying areas especially vulnerable to flooding after heavy rain events. 

Understanding Weather Alerts 

Watch:

This means conditions are right for a severe weather event. It’s a great time to prepare for possible hazards and power outages, make sure you’re set up to get emergency alerts, check your emergency kit, and run through the “Before the Storm” checklist below. 

Warning:

This means a severe weather event is occurring right now. Follow your safety plan and stay sheltered until it passes.

  • Before the Storm 
    • Build an emergency supply kit, including batteries, flashlights, a weather radio, a battery-powered clock, nonperishable food, bottled water, medicine, and a first-aid kit. FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends stocking 72 hours’ worth of supplies. 
    • Make an emergency plan.
      • Make sure everyone in your household knows where to go in case of a tornado warning. Pick a small central room, away from windows, on the lowest level (preferably the basement) with as many walls as possible between you and the outdoors. 
      • If extended outages are a risk, plan safe alternative accommodations in advance. 
    • If anyone in your household relies on electronic medical equipment, sign up for the Critical Referral Program to flag your account during outage restoration.
    • Follow trusted sources like the NOAA Weather Radio and the Tennessee Emergency Management Association (TEMA) to stay informed when bad weather is on the way.
    • Keep trees trimmed to reduce the risk of wind damage. 
    • Prepare your vehicle. Fill up on gas or charge your EV battery so you’re ready to move to safety if necessary.  
    • Charge your cell phone and a portable battery if you have one so you can track updates and call for emergency assistance if needed.  
    • Secure or bring in outdoor furniture and loose objects when thunderstorms or strong winds are on the radar. 
    • Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed.  
  • During the Storm
    • Turn on your weather radio to get critical updates from the National Weather Service. 
    • Unplug nonessential appliances and electronics. 
    • Stay safe around power lines: 
      • Stay at least 35 feet away from power lines and assume every wire is live. 
      • Look up before moving metal ladders and scaffolding to avoid contact with lines. 
      • Don’t attempt to remove tree limbs or debris from power lines. Leave it to the professionals. 
      • Stay inside the car if power lines fall across your vehicle. If you are forced to abandon your car, jump with your feet together and never touch the car and the ground at the same time. 
      • Call 9-1-1 to report hazardous conditions. 
  • If Power Goes Out
    • Report outages to NES. You can do this by signing into My Account, texting “OUT” to NESPWR at 637797, using the Outage Map, or calling 615-234-000.
    • Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed to preserve food as long as possible. Check the U.S. FDA for guidance. 
    • Never cook with charcoal indoors. Poor ventilation can allow dangerous gases to build up in your home. 
    • Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid fire hazards.
  • Portable Generators
    • Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust by operating your generator outside for proper ventilation.
    • Never refuel your generator when it is running. Let it cool down first.
    • Do not store fuel in a garage, basement, or inside your home. Vapors can be released that can cause illness and are a potential fire hazard.
    • Never hook up a generator directly to your home's electrical service or wiring. This can cause backfeeding and pose a serious risk to NES lineworkers.
  • Power Lines
    • Stay at least 35 feet away from power lines and assume every wire is live.
    • Never fly a kite or model airplane near power lines.
    • Look up before moving metal ladders and scaffolding to avoid contact with lines.
    • Don’t attempt to remove tree limbs or debris from power lines. Leave it to the professionals.
    • Stay inside the car if power lines fall across your vehicle. If you are forced to abandon your car, jump clear and never touch the car and the ground at the same time.
  • After the Storm

    • In the case of a tornado, check NOAA Weather Radio or local alerts to ensure it’s safe to leave shelter. Multiple tornadoes can occur in one outbreak, and many storm-related injuries occur in the aftermath of severe weather events.

    • Inspect your home's electrical equipment for potential damage. See more information about weatherheads below.

    • If you’re able, check on your neighbors, particularly older adults, children, and people with disabilities.

    • Clear debris on your property if it’s safe to do so. Crews may need to cut broken and uprooted trees to make repairs to our lines, but it is the responsibility of the property owner to remove tree debris caused by a storm or emergency situation. Be sure to check for downed power lines to make sure it’s safe to get to work.

    • Restock your emergency supply kit. Stay safe by staying prepared for the next severe weather event. 

Call Before You Dig

Not knowing the location of underground utility lines can be dangerous and costly. Call 811 before any digging job. One easy phone call to 811 starts the process to get your underground utility lines marked for free. Operators will ask for the location of your next digging job and notify the affected utility companies. Each utility will send a professional locator to mark your lines. By calling 811, you will prevent unintended consequences such as injury to you or your family, damage to your property, utility service outages to the entire neighborhood and potential fines and repair costs.

Make sure to always dig around the marks, not on them. Some utility lines may be buried at a shallow depth. Time, erosion or root structure growth may shift the locations of your utility lines, so remember to call each time you plan a digging job.