Nashville Faces Fallout After Devastating Winter Storm

Metro Council grills utility and city officials over communication failures and lack of preparedness

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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In a marathon Metro Council meeting, Nashville officials faced intense scrutiny over their response to a devastating winter storm that left hundreds of thousands without power for days. The scale of the damage, estimated at $110-$140 million, exposed widespread frustration over communication breakdowns, raised concerns about protections for medically vulnerable residents, and set the stage for multiple reviews and potential reforms.

Why it matters

The winter storm highlighted long-standing issues with Nashville's power grid resilience and emergency preparedness, raising questions about the city's ability to respond effectively to future extreme weather events. The fallout could lead to changes in utility oversight, infrastructure investments, and emergency management protocols.

The details

The winter storm caused unprecedented damage, with over 230,000 customers losing power at the peak and nearly 800 utility poles broken. Nashville Electric Service (NES) acknowledged communication failures, including inaccurate restoration time estimates and overwhelmed call centers. Councilmembers also raised concerns about the Critical Care Registry, which is meant to prioritize medically vulnerable residents, after some went days without power. Tree damage was a major factor, with NES admitting it had fallen behind on vegetation management in recent years. To address the issues, NES committed to an independent review, while the city plans a Winter Storm Response Commission and potential studies on undergrounding power lines and improving tree trimming practices.

  • The winter storm hit Nashville in early February 2026.
  • The Metro Council held a special joint session to question officials on February 11, 2026.
  • NES said the independent after-action review would be completed within 90 days.

The players

Nashville Electric Service (NES)

The electric utility serving Nashville and Davidson County, which sustained an estimated $110-$140 million in damage from the winter storm.

Metro Council

The legislative body of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, which convened the special session to demand answers from city and utility officials.

Metro Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

The Metro department that coordinated the city's emergency response, including opening shelters and distributing resources.

Critical Care Registry

A program maintained by NES to identify customers who depend on electricity for life-sustaining medical equipment, which came under scrutiny for failing to adequately protect some medically vulnerable residents.

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What’s next

The independent after-action review of NES's and the city's response is expected to be completed within 90 days. The Mayor's Winter Storm Response Commission will also be formed to further evaluate preparedness and response protocols. Potential outcomes include changes to utility oversight, infrastructure investments, and emergency management practices.

The takeaway

The winter storm exposed longstanding vulnerabilities in Nashville's power grid and emergency response systems, underscoring the need for the city and its utility to prioritize resilience and improve communication with residents, especially the most vulnerable, in the face of increasingly severe weather events.