In a rare move signaling the major impact of the winter storm, Metro has opened cold weather warming locations across Nashville. Here are the details as of 4 p.m. Friday.
Warm locations with food and cots:
- Southeast Regional Community Center, 5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Suite 202, Antioch, TN 37013
- Madison Community Center, 550 N. Dupont Ave., Madison, TN 37115
- Nashville Fairgrounds, 401 Wingrove Street, Nashville, TN 37203
- Bellevue Community Center, 7638A Highway 70 South, Nashville, TN 37221
Residents needing transportation should call: 615-401-1712.
Pets are allowed.
About 400 people have been staying at the city’s emergency shelters on recent nights.
Reported previously
The Nashville Fire Department opened its 39 stations for warming, and most police precinct community rooms are also available (except for Central and East).
Locations will be open 24/7. But these sites do not have overnight accommodations.
Overnight stays
Three other locations — two community centers and the Fairgrounds — do have supplies for those planning to sleep.
The Southeast community center in Antioch and the Madison community center have ample open space, and cots will be available. The Fairgrounds will also have cots, as well as meals and Red Cross support.
During a media briefing on Monday, metro officials reported about 100 people stayed in the three shelters on Sunday night. They said there is space for thousands — and that they will find more locations if they need to.
Metro Nashville Police John Drake said people need to confront the reality that it could be several days before their electricity is back. And Sunday night might have been one of the easiest.
“I know a lot of people bundled up throughout the night and braved it, but tonight is going to be very, very cold,” he said. “Please consider one of the shelters if you can.”
More: All storm updates from WPLN
Transportation
Roads conditions vary across the city. Major thoroughfares have been getting treated, however transportation officials warned that the mix of rain and slush could have diluted salt and other treatments.
Those needing a ride to an overnight shelter can call the city. The phone number is 615-401-1712.
City officials say they will need your name, the number of people needing a ride, your location, whether there are special needs or mobility concerns and whether you are bringing a pet.
Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced the new initiative during a briefing on Monday morning, and the Nashville Fire Department released contact details a few hours later.
“We know not everyone can drive and we don’t want transportation to be a barrier to getting to someplace warm if your power is out,” O’Connell said.
People without heat in their homes were forced to make evacuation plans Sunday.
“Our house is slowly dropping in temperature right now,” said Alejandro Meron. “I am trying to just uncover my car before it gets even more frozen, so I might be going to a hotel potentially.”
Tough decisions for residents
Nashville hotels filled up steadily as many people who lost power started looking for a warm place to stay.
Breeland Burum and his family checked into a Midtown hotel Sunday afternoon. While holding his one-year-old son in the lobby, he said that he’s here for the same reason as everyone else.
“Heat and keeping food cold and trying to find him something to eat,” he said, smiling at his baby, “Unless he wanted to eat gazpacho.”
Lots of other locals had the same idea — that hotel was fully booked on Sunday night.
Catherine Madison and her family booked three nights at the same hotel with her husband and two young children.
“It got really cold pretty quickly. And sleeping overnight, I was concerned with keeping them warm. With it getting dark, too — they get really scared in the dark,” she said.
Madison added that so far, her kids have been treating their hotel stay like an adventure. She let each of them back their own backpack full of stuffed animals, toys, books and video games.
As crews work on getting power back, Brent Baker, with Nashville Electric Service said the outages could be prolonged, and that it could be multiple days before power is restored.
This story was updated at 5:25 p.m. Monday.
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