Outage food decisions
| Compartment | Door closed, food safe for about | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 4 hours | Discard perishables above 40 °F for 2+ hours |
| Full freezer | 48 hours | Refreeze if ice crystals remain or ≤ 40 °F |
| Half-full freezer | 24 hours | Same rule |
If water reached an appliance
Act now
- Don't plug in or switch on anything that sat in floodwater.
- Floodwater contaminates insulation and controls — refrigerators and freezers often aren't salvageable.
- Gas appliances need a technician or the gas utility before relighting.
During a tornado warning
Shelter comes first. Afterwards, check for gas smell, damaged vent hoods and pulled-out appliances before restoring power to the kitchen and laundry.
Repair cost, replacement or an insurance claim
Photograph damaged appliances with model and serial labels before anything is hauled away. An insurer may need a technician's written assessment, so ask for one when you book the visit.
Getting a useful assessment
After a storm, many households need two answers at once: can this appliance be repaired, and what did the storm actually damage? Ask the technician to note the model and serial numbers, what they tested, and whether the damage is consistent with water, a power surge or normal wear. That written note is what an insurer or landlord usually wants.
Power surges when the grid comes back can damage control boards on newer refrigerators, washers and ranges. If an appliance is dead after an outage while everything else in the house works, check the breaker and outlet first, then mention the outage when you request a repair so the technician brings the right parts. A whole-home or point-of-use surge protector is worth considering for expensive electronics-heavy appliances.
Provider coverage in Nashville
Davidson County and surrounding providers are being verified now. Call with your ZIP code to confirm.
Nashville at a glance
- Main appliance stress
- Severe storms, outages, flash flooding
- Electric
- Nashville Electric Service (NES)
- Natural gas
- Piedmont Natural Gas across much of the area
Provider coverage in Nashville
Participating providers: not yet. This page is local guidance — not a promise that a technician is available at every address.Common questions
My washer was in a few inches of water. Can I dry it out and use it?
Have it inspected first. Water can reach the motor, pump and control board even if the drum stayed dry.
Who do I call about a gas smell after a storm?
Leave, then call 911 or Piedmont Natural Gas from outside.