No One Loves, Like Dickson Loves: City And County Leaders Detail Coordinated Response To Winter Storm Fern

Dickson, TN — Dickson city and county officials on Feb. 2 provided a detailed public accounting of the response to Winter Storm Fern, describing one of the most significant winter weather emergencies the community has faced since the 1994 ice storm and a multi-day, multi-agency effort that stretched from emergency sheltering to power restoration, road clearing, and infrastructure protection.

During separate meetings held the same evening—the Dickson City Council meeting and the Dickson County Commission work session—leaders from both governments outlined how early planning, constant coordination, and partnerships with utilities, nonprofits, and state agencies helped the community navigate a prolonged ice event that affected nearly every part of the county.

A prolonged ice event, not a typical winter storm

Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. told City Council members that Winter Storm Fern differed sharply from past winter weather events because of its duration and the compounding layers of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

The storm began Saturday, Jan. 24, with 3–4 inches of snow across much of the city. Early Sunday morning brought sleet, followed by approximately a half inch of freezing rain that continued throughout the day. Unlike the 1994 ice storm, temperatures never rose.

“Everything continued to freeze and actually got worse,” Weiss said. “That made this event much more difficult to manage.”

City crews were responsible for maintaining approximately 200 miles of city streets. While plows were effective early in the event, prolonged freezing turned road surfaces into solid ice that gravity-based snowplows could not remove.

Early coordination and emergency activation

County Mayor Bob Rial said county leadership convened an emergency preparedness meeting on Jan. 21 after forecasts showed the potential for a major winter event. Representatives from highways, solid waste, emergency management, law enforcement, utilities, and maintenance participated.

As conditions worsened, the county activated its Emergency Operations Center and issued a local disaster declaration to allow flexibility in coordinating resources and assistance.

“This was an ice storm, not a snowstorm,” Rial told commissioners. “It was widespread, it wasn’t isolated, and it impacted every part of the county at the same time.”

City leadership followed a similar path. On Jan. 23, Mayor Weiss convened a planning meeting with city administration, police, fire, emergency management, the Dickson Family YMCA, and the American Red Cross Tennessee River Chapter to prepare for potential shelter operations.

Shelter operations and public safety response

As power outages spread and road conditions worsened, the YMCA transitioned from a warming center to a full 24/7 emergency shelter—the first such operation in the city’s history.

The shelter housed a peak of 52–53 people overnight and served more than 100 individuals over the course of the week. City police officers transported residents who could not safely reach the shelter, while fire crews responded to medical calls.

The City of Dickson provided 360 hot meals over three days at a cost of $3,626.40, partnering with a local restaurant to serve shelter guests. Red Cross personnel supplemented staffing and resources, significantly reducing overtime costs for the city.

Red Cross Tennessee River Chapter Executive Director Stacey Levine praised the partnership, calling it her first disaster response in her home city.

“We averaged about 45 people a night for six nights,” Levine said. “The City, the YMCA, and local nonprofits stepped up in a way that made this shelter possible.”

Power restoration and utility coordination

At the height of the storm, more than half of all electric meters in Dickson County were without power, according to county officials.

Dickson Electric System General Manager Darrell Gillespie said the storm was the most expensive and widespread outage event since 1994, with roughly a half inch of ice coating trees and power lines.

Approximately 136 linemen, 38 right-of-way crew members, and 15 support staff worked extended shifts throughout the event. City and county highway crews coordinated closely with electric crews to clear access routes, remove fallen trees, and keep trucks moving.

Gillespie estimated storm-related costs could exceed $4 million and said infrastructure repairs will continue as temporary fixes are replaced with permanent solutions.

Roads, salt, and heavy equipment

City Administrator David Travis said Public Works crews began the storm with three plows and three salt spreaders, but lost a major salt truck early in the event. Crews shifted tactics as ice accumulation increased, using skid steers, loaders, and equipment with downforce to break ice.

The city began the week with 130 tons of salt—its largest stockpile in years—and exhausted that supply. Emergency orders allowed the city to obtain an additional 100 tons from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

County Highway Superintendent Todd Hodges reported that county crews logged approximately 3,537 man-hours worked by 46 employees. The county began with roughly 350 tons of salt and is now near depletion after days of continuous treatment.

In addition to state assistance, private contractors and residents using farm equipment helped clear roadways.

Protecting critical infrastructure and waste services

City crews delivered more than 500 gallons of fuel to generators at Horizon Medical Center and its Natchez emergency facility to ensure uninterrupted medical services.

County officials temporarily expanded hours at the Burns and Charlotte convenience centers to handle increased household waste from spoiled food and storm cleanup. One county employee was injured during recovery operations but is expected to return to work.

Reviewing lessons learned

Both city and county leaders emphasized that administrative office closures did not mean government stopped functioning.

“When county government closes, frontline services keep going,” Rial said.

City leadership held a two-hour internal debrief on Feb. 2 to evaluate response strategies, equipment needs, and priority street designations. County officials said similar evaluations are underway as the community transitions from response to recovery.

“No one loves like Dickson loves”

Dickson Family YMCA Director Paul Pitney closed the city’s discussion with a reflection that captured the tone of the week.

“No one loves like Dickson loves,” Pitney said. “This was local government, nonprofits, churches, volunteers—all working as one team for the good of our neighbors.”

Recovery continues

City crews continue clearing streets and catching up on sanitation routes, while Dickson Electric System completes permanent infrastructure repairs. The YMCA will continue operating as a warming station whenever overnight temperatures fall below 18 degrees.

On Jan. 28, Gov. Bill Lee requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration from President Donald J. Trump for 23 Tennessee counties, including Dickson, to support recovery through FEMA Public and Individual Assistance. Damage assessments remain ongoing.