Updated Story: The weather related deaths from the snow and ice that hit our area a week ago has risen.
The state says the death is now at 27, four of those in Knox County, two in Roane County, one in Anderson County and two in Washington County.
The state says weather related deaths include many different situations like hypothermia, exposure, falling through ice and drowning which is determined by the Medical Examiner.
How much will clearing the streets and Knox County cost?
Crews across East Tennessee have been hard at work plowing streets and laying down salt as snow fell last Monday and cold temperatures hampered progress.
Jim Snowden with Knox County says they estimated they spent nearly $250,000 on salt alone, and after the reviews of equipment damages and equipment repairs, the expenditures would most likely top $300,000.
Officials with the City of Knoxville say preliminary numbers were only available through this past Wednesday and were only for public services like employee overtime and resource purchases which were more than $335,000 with totals expected to be released mid-week.
Original Story: The Tennessee Department of Health says more people have died due to below freezing temperatures after a winter storm hit Tennessee this week.
The TDH says two new deaths occurred in Marshall County and one in Roane County, bringing the total of weather-related deaths to 17.
Extreme cold weather is expected to linger through the weekend, with temperatures in the teens on Saturday. Ice also continues to be a problem on the roadways.
Officials continue to urge residents to stay off the roads and out of the frigid temperatures.
