Winter Storm Fern has caused widespread power outages and hazardous conditions across Metro Nashville and surrounding communities. Local agencies and nonprofit partners continue to focus on restoring power, providing safe warming locations and transportation, delivering meals and essential supplies, and coordinating recovery planning.
The Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster—a network of approximately 50 nonprofits—has been officially activated and is coordinating with Metro Nashville, the United Way of Greater Nashville and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to identify needs and direct support where it’s most effective.
Get Help
If you need immediate help:
- Dial 2-1-1 (United Way Helpline):
- You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211
- Note: call volume is elevated; callers may need to stay on the line.
- Visit the Davidson County needs tracker: NashvilleResponds.com
Submit needs, damage information and resource requests.
For welfare checks:
- Call 311 or visit HUB Nashville (Davidson County welfare checks)
- Call 1-800-TBI-FIND (State of Tennessee welfare check line)
Transportation to warming locations (Davidson County):
- Call 615-401-1712 to request transport to a warm, safe location (interpreters available).
Be ready to share:
- Name, current location, number of people needing transportation
- Mobility/special needs
- Pet information (pets allowed for transport)
Warming locations and shelters (Davidson County)
24/7 warming locations:
- All Nashville Fire Stations (39 locations)
- Metro Police Precincts (North, West, Hermitage, Madison, South, Midtown Hills, Southeast)
Note: Central and East precincts are not available as warming shelters.
24/7 overnight, pet-friendly shelters (with food):
- 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 St, Nashville, TN 37203
Pets are allowed; please bring a crate if possible.
Vanderbilt community warming location (open to all)
Vanderbilt is welcoming community members who need a warm place to rest and recharge at the David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center:
- Warm up indoors; charge devices; warm drinks and snacks
- Showers (bring flip flops and your own towel)
- Family-friendly activities (story time, mindfulness, puzzles and more)
Location: 2700 Children’s Way, Nashville, TN 37212
Operating hours:
- Thu, Jan. 29: 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
- Fri, Jan. 30: 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Sat, Jan. 31: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Sun, Feb. 1: Noon–11 p.m.
Give help
Donate
Monetary donations are the fastest, most flexible way to support changing needs and can be deployed quickly as needs evolve.
Donations will support current and emerging needs—including food and supplies now, and, as assessments continue, cleanup and debris removal. Funds will be used until needs are met or funds are exhausted; if funds remain after needs are met, they will shift to a disaster response fund for future needs.
Volunteer
Hands On Nashville collaborates with the Nashville Office of Emergency Management and partners to coordinate safe, effective opportunities as they’re identified.
Current/announced opportunities
- Community Resource Center—warehouse assistance (process incoming donations)
- Equity Alliance—virtual wellness phone banking
- TIRRC—wellness phone banking (Jan. 29–Feb. 1)
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
- Mercy Chefs—prep/package meals and support distribution
- Open Table Nashville—support unhoused Nashvillians
- Crisis Cleanup—remote phone volunteers (through Feb. 13)
