Many Tennessee residents are sharing their experiences with Winter Storm Fern, which wreaked havoc in and around the Nashville area.
The region is trying to get back to normal after Fern dumped snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice on much of the East Coast in recent days.
According to The Tennessean, the storm resulted in crippled roads, snapped trees and power poles, downed power lines and stranded residents. There were eight confirmed weather-related fatalities in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, as of Tuesday, January 27.
“No power still but there are linemen finally near,” country singer Maren Morris wrote via her Instagram Story on Tuesday, while bundled up in her warmed winter coat. “A lot of damage to repair, but a silver [sic] of hope.”
Jessie James Decker shared footage of her husband, Eric Decker, shoveling the family’s front yard in between cutting down tree branches and collecting firewood.
“While other women say ‘I don’t need a man,’ I just smile, because I very much need mine,” she wrote via Instagram on Tuesday. “And I’ll have supper on the table for ya when you come in.”
As the region braces for another cold blast over the weekend, keep reading to see what some of Nashville’s biggest stars experienced during the storm:
Shawn Johnson East
Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East was one of thousands of residents who lost power during the storm.
“That’s our house and now my parents without power,” Johnson East, 34, shared via her Instagram Story on Tuesday. “We came to my parents when ours went out and a tree took out our electrical panel. Going on 4 days now without power and not an end in sight yet. Now my parents just went out so we have to game plan of where to go. 4 adults, 3 kids and 6 animals.”
According to Johnson East, “most everyone” was leaving the city because “it’s just way too cold.”
“Even fireplaces aren’t keeping up or people are running out of supplies or wood,” she claimed. “We don’t have generators. Not super common in Nashville. Will for sure be the first thing we get when we get through this. Generator and cleaning up 100 tires.”
Jessie James Decker
As a resident of Tennessee since 2007, country singer Jessie James Decker said she has “never seen anything like this.”
“To all the line workers and first responders, thank you. ❤️🙏🏽,” she wrote via Instagram on Tuesday. “We can’t even imagine what you’re going through or how tirelessly you’re working to help our community.”
Lauren Lane
The Bachelor alum Lauren Lane shared a glimpse into what her neighborhood looked like as she tried to help the birds that visit her home.
“Nashville looks so, so sad right now. So many trees down and destruction,” she wrote via her Instagram Story on Tuesday. “I’ve been feeding them daily. They have been devouring food. My feeder came off the window. It was so cold, but they are hungry birdies.”
Chyler Leigh
Hallmark actress Chyler Leigh didn’t take any chances before Winter Storm Fern arrived in her city.
“I prepped as well as I could for this ice storm. Truly. I have my kids and my pets with me so I didn’t take an iota of situation without great concern beforehand,” she wrote via Instagram on Tuesday. “That said, I’ve been without power since Sunday morning. I’ve had a multitude of large trees and limbs fall in my yard (luckily no structural damage). It honestly sounded like mini explosions as the actual scene unfolded. Trees crashing as they succumbed to the weight of the ice. Very eerie.”
Ashley Wahler
The Hills alum Ashley Wahler couldn’t believe what she saw in her community.
“Still SOOOOOO many people without power. I have never seen so much destruction. It’s just heartbreaking,” she wrote via her Instagram Story on Tuesday. “With as many trees as I have seen down with friends and their farms, etc., it looks like a majority of properties have been ok, which is literally God’s protection right there!”
Cole LaBrant
Influencer Cole LaBrant was able to step outside of his home and share a view into what his neighborhood block looked like after the storm.
“This ice storm has really rocked our family and our city. I don’t think anybody was really prepared for this level of devastation,” he shared via Instagram on Tuesday. “We’re very fortunate to have great friends who have helped us out. We’re thankful for the workers working tirelessly to try and get power back on for everyone. Praying for our city and everyone affected tonight.”
Maren Morris
Country singer Maren Morris tried to stay warm when posting an update in her warmest winter outfit. .
“No power still but there are linemen finally near,” Morris, 35, wrote via her Instagram Story on Tuesday. “A lot of damage to repair, but a silver [sic] of hope.”
Kaitlyn Bristowe
The Bachelette’s Kaitlyn Bristowe was able to find comfort at a friend’s house during the storm.
“As a Canadian, I thought they were being so dramatic but nope. This has been wild,” she said via her Instagram Story on Tuesday. “Grateful for power at a friends. Puzzles are medicine to my anxiety.”
Reese Witherspoon
Actress Reese Witherspoon couldn’t believe the images she saw out of Nashville.
“As a Nashville native, I have never seen this amount of destruction in my hometown. This aftermath of this storm is keeping 200,000 – 220,000 people without power since Saturday. People are freezing. 8 people have died,” she wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, January 28. “The roads are impassible. The power is out in hospitals and shelters. People are freezing.”
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