Dear Neighbors,

 

In the days and weeks following Winter Storm Fern, I witnessed something extraordinary.

I saw neighbors checking on neighbors. I saw people sharing food, opening their homes, offering rides, and making sure no one faced those cold, uncertain days alone. I saw our community choose care.

 

Over 3,100 individual District 24 constituents reached out to me directly seeking help, information, or support. Behind every message was a person navigating uncertainty — families without power, seniors needing warmth, neighbors looking for answers. In responding, I experienced firsthand the true power of connection — and the strength of local government working alongside community.

 

I join you, and thousands across our district and city, in expressing deep gratitude to the lineworkers, emergency responders, public works crews, and Metro employees who worked endless hours in dangerous conditions to restore power and services.

I also join many of you in calling for accountability and improvement. Your questions directly informed Special Committee meetings with Nashville Electric Service, Metro departments, and emergency management. That work continues.

 

And I am deeply grateful to neighborhood leaders and volunteers who helped share information, check on neighbors, and ensure no one was left behind. With partners like World Central Kitchen and community volunteers, we served over 650 warm meals to neighbors throughout the district and many at Richland Park, Richland Park Public Library, and West Precinct. Many more meals and services were delivered directly to family members and neighbors in need. Thank you to the West Precinct for serving as warming location during our neediest times.

 

Recovery continues. This newsletter shares resources, relief programs, and updates available to support you.

 

We came through this together. And we will continue forward together.

With gratitude and commitment,

 

Warmest regards,

Brenda Gadd (she/her)
Councilmember for District 24
📍 Find out if you live in District 24
📬 Email Brenda.Gadd@Nashville.Gov for Metro assistance.
🌐 Use hub.nashville.gov for non-emergency Metro needs.

Winter Storm Fern caused the largest power outage event in Nashville Electric Service history, impacting nearly 300,000. Metro immediately declared a state of emergency and activated a full-scale emergency response to protect residents, open warming centers, expand shelter capacity, and coordinate recovery efforts across the city. What I learned is the lack of operational control Metro has over NES and the need for better communication. (This is an understatement of course there is much more I have learned – and much from you.) Many of you have sent me information to guide our conversations through accountability, understanding and change. That work started in earnest last week with our special called council meeting with leadership of NES as well as Metro departments on our preparedness.

 

Now, as emergency conditions have improved, we have transitioned to long-term recovery through the Restore Nashville initiative, focused on helping residents regain stability.

 

 

 

The focus of Restore Nashville is not only restoring infrastructure, but restoring stability for families, helping residents remain in their homes, and ensuring our community fully recovers.

 

 

Metro Nashville has launched the Restore Nashville initiative, focused on helping residents recover financially and remain safely housed. This is the one stop website: 

 

🔗  https://www.nashville.gov/departments/government/restore-nashville

 

Residents impacted by the storm may also qualify for direct financial assistance through the Winter Storm Recovery Fund, supported by the Community Foundation and United Way.

 

Apply or learn more:

🔗 https://cfmt.org/story/winter-storm-recovery-fund/

 

 

Many residents have asked about FEMA assistance.

 

FEMA has approved disaster assistance for infrastructure and Metro’s emergency response. Individual financial assistance for residents is still under federal review.

 

I know many District 24 residents experienced significant damage and financial hardship, and I am actively advocating alongside Metro leadership for additional federal support. I will share updates immediately if individual FEMA assistance becomes available.

 

 

Metro has reallocated federal recovery funds to expand emergency rent and mortgage assistance.

 

🔗 https://www.nashville.gov/departments/metro-action/emergency-winter-housing-assistance-program-ewhap

 

NOTE: Metro has also reallocated $750,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to expand housing assistance, allowing hundreds of additional households impacted by the storm to receive rent and mortgage support.

 

🔗 https://nashvilleresponds.com

📞 Call 2-1-1 for assistance

 

Metro Water Services is offering:

• Payment plans

• Leak adjustments for storm damage

• No late fees or shutoffs during recovery

 

📞 615-862-4600

🔗 https://www.nashville.gov/departments/water

 

 

Metro Codes is waiving permit fees for storm-related repairs to reduce rebuilding costs.

 

Learn more:

🔗 https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes

 

 

Nashville Electric Service is offering:

 

👉 No shutoffs or late fees through June 2026

👉 Flexible payment arrangements through December 2026

👉 Individualized assistance

 

Contact NES:

📞 615-736-6900

🔗 https://www.nespower.com

 

 

If your home was damaged, you may qualify for reassessment.

 

Contact Assessor's Office:

📞 615-862-6080

🔗 https://www.padctn.org

 

 

 

 

Residents can receive in-person help at:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Existing SNAP recipients impacted by the storm may qualify for replacement food benefits.

 

Learn more:
🔗 https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/tdhs-disaster-emergency-assistance.html

 

 

Metro crews are conducting countywide debris collection throughout the next several weeks. There is not a specific public schedule published but county-wide pick-ups will happen until all storm debris is removed from right of ways.

 

To participate – it's easy:

 

👉 Place brush and limbs at curb

👉 Multiple passes will occur

👉 No request required

 

 

 

 

Telecommunications providers are restoring remaining service interruptions.

 

If you still have outages with AT&T or Comcast you can email me at Brenda.Gadd@nashville.gov and I will work with their government relations representative. Please send your address. In the meantime this is the information provided to me from their representatives. Tip: Restart modem and contact provider.

 

AT&T Support:

📞 800-288-2020

🔗 https://att.com/outages

 

Comcast/Xfinity Support:
📞 800-XFINITY
🔗 https://www.xfinity.com/support/status

 

 

Temporary housing court dockets are available to connect tenants with rental assistance and prevent eviction.

 

Learn more:

🔗 https://www.nashville.gov/departments/courts/general-sessions-court

 

 

Metro Public Health’s Nashville Strong Babies program supports expecting families with:

 

 

Learn more:

🔗 https://www.nashvillestrongbabies.com

 

 

Metro employees impacted by the storm may qualify for financial assistance. Metro employees where impacted and continued to show up for our neighbors. If you or someone you know is a Metro employee and need help during this recovery please apply here:

🔗 https://www.nashville.gov/departments/finance/employee-assistance

 

 

Celebrate youth creativity!

 

 

 

Affordable housing waiting lists now open.

Apply: 🔗 https://www.nashville-mdha.org

 

 

Over $1.2 million raised to help residents recover.

 

Volunteer:

🔗 https://www.hon.org

 

Apply for assistance:

🔗 https://nashvilleresponds.com

 

 

Council is actively working on:

 

 

 

➡️ Zoning: Kenner Avenue Bagel Shop. The local property owner at 100 Kenner Avenue is filed an application for a regulatory rezoning of the commercial property to add one more use to the existing commercial uses – an artisan bakery. Thank you to the Kenner Neighborhood Association for hosting conversaions with property owner, business owner and me to determine the best pathway forward. With suupport of neighbors nearest the impact, this was heard with a public hearing at the Planning Commission and will move forward to the council after approval there. 

 

➡️ Zoning: Belle Meade Theater Historic Landmark legislation. This zoning legislation will move forward in the early months of 2026 to designate and add protections to the building where the former Belle Meade Theater was located at 4301 Harding Pike. I filed this legislation early in 2025 and have been working with the property owners. 

 

➡️ Blasting: Have you heard blasting where you live? After several neighbors in the Harding and White Bridge area reached out regarding questions about blasting I was able to get some information from Metro and the State regarding the location at the old Belle Meade Plaza site on Harding. The State of Tennessee's Fire Marshall's office is the one that permits blasting and we do have confirmation that there is notification on file with the state for this site. I have not been able to get much more information as of yet but you can submit complaints here: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/fire/permit/licensing/blasting.html

 

➡️ 38th Avenue Water Storage Tank, Sidewalks Pending: The 2.5 million-gallon tank installation is complete (located between 37th and 38th Ave. N. off of Charlotte Ave.) Sidewalks will be included and I am working to get the timeline for installment.