Bracing for a daunting winter storm, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has officially shuttered state offices for Friday. The anticipated severe weather led to proactive measures to ensure public safety amidst expected hazardous travel conditions, as widely reported including by a state government announcement.

Despite the closure of physical offices, state services that are delivered online will persist to be accessible. The state employees who are equipped to invariably work remotely are instructed to do so, maintaining the continuity of government operations from the safety of their homes.

In a strategic move, The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) was directed by Governor Lee to declare a State of Emergency. This declaration swiftly allows for regulatory relief and primes the state for the inclement weather forecast from Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon. TEMA has mobilized, actively collaborating with various partners at the local, regional, and state levels, bolstering preparedness and resource deployment, as indicated in the governor's announcement.

Meanwhile, The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is hard at work pre-treating interstates and state routes. With safety as the primary concern, they implore Tennesseans to practice extreme caution and avoid any non-essential travel during the tempest.