Nashville Electric Service (NES) released a statement on Monday updating the public about its work in restoring power for approximately 48,000 customers affected by severe storms.
We are devastated by this weekend’s fatal storms. Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by this tragedy. In the aftermath of the storms, Tennesseans proved yet again that we are stronger together.
We are grateful for our crews, who have worked tirelessly in freezing… pic.twitter.com/kcD0UVbfxa
— Nashville Electric Service (@NESpower) December 18, 2023
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes ripped through Middle Tennessee on December 9, causing six fatalities – three in Montgomery County and three in Davidson County – and dozens of injuries. The storms produced significant damage to nearly 1,900 homes and destroyed over 500 homes, according to initial reports.
The National Weather Service has since confirmed a total of eight tornadoes resulted in the damage.
“We at NES are devastated by this weekend’s deadly storms that swept through Middle Tennessee. Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones, sustained injuries and were displaced due to Saturday’s violent tornadoes. In the aftermath of the storms, Nashvillians proved yet again that we are stronger together. As our crews continue to restore power to our remaining customers with outages, we thank both our crews and customers for their resilience,” NES said in a statement.
NES said the storms resulted in “extensive damage” to its equipment and facilities.
“Following the storm, NES’ equipment and facilities faced extensive damage from direct storm hits. Over 189 power poles were broken, infrastructure throughout Middle Tennessee required thorough repairs, and most notably, the North Substation was lit aflame when hit by the tornado,” NES said.
The company added that 300 linemen have been working rotating 24-hour shifts during the past week to restore power to approximately 48,000 NES customers impacted by the storm. Contract crews from Georgia, Kentucky, and Indiana assisted in the restoration of power.
“We are grateful for our linemen, who endured both dangerous and freezing conditions to help the Nashville community get re-energized as quickly and safely as possible,” NES said. “We are especially thankful for our customers who have been extremely patient and encouraging, both to our crews in person and on our various social media platforms. We are extremely proud to call Nashville home – we are continually amazed by the city’s resilience and compassion and are honored to serve Music City.”
President Joe Biden approved Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s disaster declaration last week, granting his request for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, and Sumner counties, along with Hazard Mitigation statewide to help Tennesseans recover and rebuild from the severe storms.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Tornado Damage” by Nashville Electric Service.
