Downtown Nashville, Feb. 17, 2021
The best way to stay safe during a severe weather event is to be prepared. That’s especially true in Middle Tennessee, where residents can experience everything from floods and tornadoes to hurricanes and snowstorms — occasionally in the same year.
Here are some resources to stay safe.
Nashville Severe Weather
Nashvillians have a fantastic resource in Nashville Severe Weather, which posts updates to nashvillesevereweather.com and streams on its YouTube channel during severe weather events. The team compiles data from the National Weather Service, radar data and modeling technology into an easily understood and accessible format. They aren’t just trusted locally — we’ve given them multiple Best of Nashville nods over the years. They also won the Public Service Award from the National Weather Association in 2016.
Second Place:Â Nicole Williams
Members once referred to themselves as “tweeteorologists,” and they also post as @NashSevereWx on X, formerly known as Twitter. If you’re using Twitter or another social media site for updates, make sure your timeline is set to show the most recent posts first to get up-to-date information.
Preparing
The National Weather Service provides guidance on how to prepare for different types of severe weather events, but there are a few principles to keep in mind no matter what:
Know your home’s safe spots: These can differ depending on the type of storm. During a tornado, for example, seek a room without windows on the lowest floor.
Stay informed: Tornadoes in particular often hit at night, so “wake-me-up” mobile apps are a helpful way to loudly warn you when severe weather is close. Nashville Severe Weather has recommended apps like StormWatch+, available via both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Create an emergency kit: Nashville Severe Weather’s site recommends including items like water, nonperishable food, first aid supplies and a flashlight. You can also include things like a battery-powered radio, portable phone chargers and activities to help wait out the storm.
Turn around, don’t drown: This catchy slogan exists for a reason. Floodwaters are often deeper and faster-flowing than they appear, and they can contain everything from downed power lines to wild animals to human and livestock waste.
After the Storm
Government agencies including the Nashville Office of Emergency Management offer relief services following severe weather events. Nashvillians also frequently create grassroots aid efforts such as GoFundMe pages and donation links.
Unfortunately, scammers sometimes use severe weather events as an opportunity to prey on both vulnerable survivors and those hoping to help through donations, so always verify aid organizations. Local media outlets (including the Scene) often compile legitimate aid sources following natural disasters.
