Ice storm leaves thousands without power in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana

A widespread ice storm last week knocked out power across Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, leaving tens of thousands without electricity and heat as of Sunday and contributing to more than 30 deaths, officials said. Nashville accounts for a majority of the outages in Tennessee, with about 33,000 customers still without power as of early Sunday afternoon.

The Nashville Electric Service acknowledged on Saturday that it may take at least another week for some neighborhoods to return to full power, and said at least one ZIP code might not see full service restored until Feb. 11. Anger has grown toward the Nashville Electric Service over slow repairs and unclear communications.

"Nashvillians are justifiably angry," Mayor Freddie O’Connell said in a statement, and he later called the time frame "unacceptable" and demanded a meeting on Sunday. Senator Marsha Blackburn said, "Whoever is responsible for this breakdown should be fired." Teresa Broyles-Aplin, the president and chief executive of the Nashville Electric Service, said in a video shared on social media, "We will not stop until we have restored power to every customer." Residents have faced spoiled food, cold homes and mounting expenses.

Community groups, neighbors and officials have been working to feed and shelter vulnerable people; friends have opened basements and spare rooms, and some families have left the state for warmth.

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