TEMA preparing for Tennessee-wide snow

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is putting plans in place for upcoming winter weather that’s expected to move into East Tennessee.

TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan spoke Tuesday, saying TEMA was working with state and local agencies to get ahead of a storm that could bring up to three or four inches of snow to some areas of East Tennessee.

“We’re working with our state, regional and local partners,” Sheehan said. “Our friends at TDOT have been out pretreating roads since 8 a.m. yesterday morning. I know several city and county departments have also been treating their roads.”

TDOT handles treating state roads and interstates, while county or city crews handle roads owned by their respective governments. WVLT News keeps track of road conditions 24/7 here.

Previous Coverage: TDOT crews to pretreat interstates, state routes in preparation of winter weather

Sheehan said most of the state has managed to avoid rain between pretreating and the upcoming snow, meaning the salt and brine solutions pouring out of state trucks should be affective. That being said, Sheehan added that travel would still be dangerous.

“Travel could become difficult over the next couple of days,” he said. “We ask folks to give yourself time to travel and, if you don’t have to go out, stay home.”

The agency also keeps an ongoing list of overnight and warming shelters, which those in need are asked to check if they need help. In Knoxville, two warming shelters won’t be open during the upcoming cold spell.