Nashville Council Puts Emergency Response Under the Microscope
Good afternoon, everyone. Some answers and more questions after Metro Council's special meeting with leaders in charge of the city's emergency response to Nashville's ice storm... Fern by the numbers... Boring Co. is one step closer to breaking ground... And much more!
Who funds your Councilmember? Checkout our new Council Watch tool. We analyzed every donation to every council member to show you whether they're funded by their constituents or someone else. Higher grades go to those who raise more money locally. (Explore)
Things That Never Happen But Should Join us Thursday, February 19th for an evening with Sean Davis, CEO and co-founder of The Federalist. This is the third installment of the Pamphleteer's new monthly event series. Paying Bard-level subscribers receive free access to this and future events. (Buy Tickets)
Like what we do? Forward us to a friend
The council probes emergency coordinators in wake of Fern.
From Megan Podsiedlik
Yesterday’s Special Joint Council Committee meeting regarding the emergency response to Winter Storm Fern started off as a PR battle between directors. Department heads and officials took five-minute turns laying out all the work they put in during the devastating ice storm. The mayor’s office made sure to be first in the queue.
Director of Legislative Affairs Dave Rosenberg rattled off a detailed timeline of Metro’s response, emphasizing early preparation, rapid escalation, and coordination across departments.
Aside from attempting to hedge some scrutiny by highlighting the unprecedented nature of the ice storm, NES CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin acknowledged the company’s significant shortcomings related to damage assessment, communication, and estimated restoration timelines.
In addition, Metro’s Office of Emergency Management Director-Chief William Swann gave fulsome praise to OEM’s entire operation—something that left some council members feeling gaslit.
Councilmember Courtney Johnston pressed Broyles-Aplin on whether NES failed to adequately scale up vegetation management crews ahead of the storm, noting that linemen were often forced to wait because trees and debris obstructed their ability to work.
While the CEO agreed with the principle, Broyles-Aplin framed the issue as a safety and sequencing problem rather than a planning failure. She explained that vegetation crews cannot work until lines are confirmed de-energized, and linemen cannot proceed until vegetation is cleared—creating a “cyclical” bottleneck.
Johnston also implored NES to expand its promised independent after-action review and include an assessment of the utility company’s overall structure—not just their response to this disaster. It’s worth noting that though the study will be conducted independently, the NES board will select the vendor who will carry out the study.
Johnston also told NES that she is aware of several lobbyist contracts that it has entered into to presumably repair relationships with state and local entities and expressed concern over the company’s lack of disclosure and purpose of those contracts.
“I think people just want the truth, and I think you can just look people in the eye and tell them the truth,” said Johnston. “I don't think we need to be spending tens of thousands, if not more, on that.”
Broyles-Aplin had no answer: “I will need to get back to you on the format of those contracts. I'm unsure of how those have been engaged.”
Watch the full meeting here.
✹ THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPEN BUT SHOULD
Welcome to America in 2026. You're sitting at the End of History. Nothing will ever happen again.
The steady march toward the impossible vision of a borderless world governed by rooms full of perfectly rational leaders incapable of committing evil in thought word or deed continues apace.
Will anything–can anything happen–that shakes us from our stupor? Is "Nothing Ever Happens" the law of the land? What should happen that hasn't happened?
Join us Thursday, February 19th as we sit down with Sean Davis, CEO and co-founder of The Federalist, to discuss whether anything will ever happen again and more. (Buy Ticket)
This event is for the benefit of The Pamphleteer and free for paying, Bard-level subscribers.
✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH
Who bankrolls your councilmember? We analyzed every donation to every council member to show you whether they're funded by their constituents or someone else. Higher grades go to those who raise more money locally. (Take a Look)
HEADLINES
- 📊 Freddie shares some emergency response numbers. The mayor’s office released a data download of Metro’s 14-day to Winter Storm Fern. The city plowed more than 2,472 miles of roads, handled a 758 percent surge in 9-1-1 calls, and repaired 172 water line breaks. In the recovery phase, crews have removed more than 90,000 cubic yards of debris, processed more than 24,000 hubNashville requests, and secured $2.3 million for a recovery fund. (Mayor’s Office)
- ⛏️ A 40-year, $34 million tunnel deal is almost complete. After months of negotiations with the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board, Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to build a Tesla transit tunnel on airport property is nearing completion. MNAA's Finance Committee approved licensing terms for the Music City Loop's BNA station and the contract will go to a full board vote scheduled for February 18. (Tennessean)
- 🏛 Former Democratic state Representative John Deberry to run for Shelby County mayor as a Republican. In 2020, Deberry was ousted by his party after serving as a Democratic lawmaker for 26 years because of his pro-life stance. Shortly after, Governor Bill Lee appointed him as a senior advisor. (State Affairs)
- ♥️ Nashville shelter dogs get Valentine's Day dates through a special volunteer program. The Nashville Humane Association is celebrating its animals throughout February with special volunteer opportunities that get shelter dogs out for quality time. The program offers "Doogie Dates" and "Rovernight" experiences where volunteers can take loving shelter dogs out of the facility for the day. (NewsChannel 5)
DEVELOPMENT
- PSC Metals scrapyard owners reveal development vision: Grocery store, family entertainment, and more. (NBJ)
- Chestnut Hill properties eyed for project sell for $8.1M. (Post)
- Target is eyeing a new location in Nashville, joining several popular chains like In-N-Out and Whataburger. (NBJ)
- The world's largest law firm,Kirkland & Ellis, has come to Nashville. (NBJ)
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here.
📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.
🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.
👨🏻🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.
TONIGHT
🪕 The Infamous Stringdusters @ Station Inn, 8p, Info
🎷 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra w/ Wynton Marsalis @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7p, $43+, Info
🎙️ Miguel @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $101+, Info
💀 Tennessee Dead @ Tennessee Brew Works, 6p, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Night @ The American Legion Post 82, 7p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.