A severe winter storm left thousands of residents in East Tennessee without electricity on Sunday morning, affecting over 6,200 customers of Volunteer Electric Cooperative and more than 1,700 households connected to the Harriman Utility Board, reports Baltimore Chronicle via WATE. Local authorities issued multiple weather watches and warnings across the region as frigid conditions persist.
Electricity outages were reported across several utility providers and counties as of 6:40 a.m., with the following numbers: Harriman Utility Board – 1,682; Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative – 85; Clinton Utility Board – 63; Rockwood Electric Utility – 639; Knoxville Utility Board – 2,048; Volunteer Energy Cooperative – 6,283; Bledsoe County – 904; Cumberland County – 2,567; McMinn County – 14; Meigs County – 92; Rhea County – 998; Roane County – 716; Lenoir City Utilities Board – 2,852; and Powell Valley Electric Cooperative – 241.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued safety guidance for residents experiencing outages in cold weather. Citizens are warned against using gas stovetop ovens, camp stoves, or charcoal grills indoors as heating sources due to fire hazards. Generators should not be operated inside homes, basements, sheds, or garages to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Utility crews are actively working to restore service, prioritizing areas with critical needs. Residents are encouraged to monitor local news for updates on restoration schedules and weather alerts. Storm Team 6 forecasts continued low temperatures and additional winter precipitation, which may further complicate recovery efforts in affected regions.
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