KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — After a winter storm hit East Tennessee and covered it in several inches of snow, temperatures are dropping dangerously low. As the thermostat falls, dispatchers and first responders are preparing for an increase in the number of calls.
During an average Monday, dispatchers in Knox County answer up to 1,400 calls. Monday's winter storm caused an uptick, with phones ringing almost all day and dispatchers answering up to 1,800 calls.
"The number one call is the motor vehicle accident," said Mark Wilbanks, a spokesperson with the Knoxville Fire Department. "Our emergency medical service calls have bumped up a little bit for slips, trips, falls."
The Knoxville Fire Department also said as temperatures fall into the single digits, they are also preparing for an increase in the number of calls for house fires. More people may use, and misuse, space heaters to keep their homes warm. To prepare for an increase in calls, KFD put more workers on the schedule and will stay in their storm phase for at least 24 more hours.
"If we had a fire tonight, it would be very labor intensive. It would be very cold," said Wilbanks. "We also have a lot of concerns about black ice on the streets."
Around 35 miles away from Knox County, in Roane County, crews are also preparing for a week filled with calls. Neighbors there saw more than 8 inches of snow in some parts of the county, and crews worked 12-hour shifts to treat the roads.
"The roads are really in bad shape," said Dennis Ferguson, Road Superintendent of the Roane County Highway Department. "The roads are not going to get any better."
People across East Tennessee, and in Roane County, are asked to stay home and avoid driving anywhere until the weather clears and the roads are less dangerous. Anyone who absolutely must drive somewhere should use extreme caution — drive slow, leave extra space and stay vigilant of ice and snow.