Tennessee’s extreme winter weather event over the last week has left 34 dead across the state, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s latest update.
TEMA said the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville is activated at a Level 4 – Elevated to support local requests.
“The extreme cold experienced last week is transitioning out of the state with this week’s forecast including warmer temperatures and rain in all parts of Tennessee starting Monday and extending through Friday,” TEMA said.
The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 34 weather-related fatalities in the following counties:
- Shelby County – 11
- Knox County – 7
- Madison County – 2
- Marshall County – 2
- Roane County – 2
- Washington County- 2
- Anderson County – 1
- Carroll County – 1
- Coffee County – 1
- Henry County – 1
- Hickman County – 1
- Lauderdale County – 1
- Marion County – 1
- Van Buren County – 1
The Knox County Regional Forensic Center is investigating at least seven deaths that happened in the past week as possibly weather-related, according to Chief Administrative Officer Chris Thomas.
Thomas confirmed to WVLT News that the following deaths were being listed as possibly weather-related but also said that other secondary factors could have contributed to their deaths.
“Official cause and manner of death will be determined after autopsy and or exam reports are finalized, which could take months due to current caseload,” Thomas said. “Our office is indeed investigating each one of these deaths to determine accurate cause and manner of death. These deaths may have other contributing factors such as natural or drug-related causes as a primary or secondary cause of death.”
The deaths come as East Tennessee saw a massive snow event that dumped several inches of snow on the ground and brought in frigid temperatures. Monday, a week after the snow fell, county and city officials are still working on roads.
Monday, Jan. 15
- A box car driver died in a crash on I-75.
- A 73-year-old woman was found outside at the bottom of a staircase
Tuesday, Jan. 16
- A 50-year-old woman, believed to be unhoused, was found outside
- A 71-year-old woman found inside a home with no heat
Friday, Jan. 19
- A 47-year-old man found outside, also believed to be unhoused
Sunday, Jan. 21
- A 52-year-old man killed in a crash on Rutledge Pike
- A 62-year-old woman found inside a car in a driveway.
Thomas and the forensic center are being asked to report possibly weather-related deaths to TEMA. The chief administrator told WVLT News that hypothermia could be a primary factor in many of the above deaths, or could be a secondary factor.
Story courtesy of WVLT
