Nashville, Tennessee - A powerful winter storm has wreaked havoc across Tennessee, resulting in numerous deaths, extensive damage, and widespread power outages. The state is now grappling with freezing temperatures and icy conditions as a new layer of ice blankets several areas, posing further challenges to residents and authorities.

The storm system, which brought heavy snowfall of over 9 inches to parts of Nashville, claimed the lives of at least 14 individuals in Tennessee alone. Among the victims were a box truck driver involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer on an interstate, a man who tragically fell through a skylight while cleaning a roof, and a woman who succumbed to hypothermia after being found unresponsive at her home. These fatalities occurred in nine different counties spanning a distance of over 400 miles.

In addition to the loss of life, the storm caused chaos on the roads. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported investigating three fatal car accidents due to the hazardous weather, along with more than 200 wrecks resulting in injuries and over 600 others without injuries.

Record-low temperatures, dipping below zero degrees Fahrenheit in some areas (-18 degrees Celsius), have further intensified the crisis. The immense power demand resulting from the frigid conditions has become the highest ever recorded across the seven states served by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Thursday's freezing rain exacerbated the situation, creating a delicate layer of ice across some regions, which is expected to worsen as temperatures continue to drop over the weekend. As a result, many schools, government offices, and the state Legislature have shut down, canceling in-person meetings for the entire week.

While Tennessee copes with the aftermath of the storm, other parts of the country are also feeling its effects. Near Portland, Oregon, warmer temperatures and rainfall have caused some of the ice to melt, but a National Weather Service advisory is still in effect, warning of freezing rain and gusting winds of up to 40 mph for certain areas. Portland-area schools have canceled three consecutive days of classes due to dangerous road conditions and water damage caused by burst frozen pipes.

The toll from this winter weather system extends beyond Tennessee and Oregon, with more than 40 deaths reported nationwide in the past week. Washington state witnessed five deaths from hypothermia, with three presumed to be homeless. Western New York claimed three lives, while Pennsylvania saw five individuals struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on a slick interstate. Kansas mourned the death of an 18-year-old whose body was discovered in a snow-filled ditch near his stranded vehicle. Mississippi reported five winter weather-related deaths and continues to grapple with water system issues in its capital city, Jackson.

As communities come together to support those affected by the storm, local organizations are working tirelessly to provide aid and shelter to the most vulnerable. Nonprofits such as Open Table Nashville are distributing supplies and offering transportation to warming centers and shelters, with a particular focus on assisting homeless individuals in need.

While the immediate aftermath of this devastating winter storm continues to unfold, the true extent of its impact is yet to be fully realized. As authorities work to restore power and essential services, residents are urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions until conditions stabilize for a safer return to normalcy.