As Winter Storm Fern chewed through Tennessee, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency crews were not just tracking deer and ducks. They were out in force across the state, clearing snow-choked roads, checking on vulnerable residents, and reaching places ordinary emergency vehicles simply could not get to. On the Cumberland Plateau, that meant heading straight up Hinch Mountain near Crossville to help restore critical radio links for first responders.
In a Jan. 27 Facebook post, the agency said its “wildlife managers, officers, technicians and radio crews” worked on Hinch Mountain in Crossville while also backing up storm response statewide. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reported that teams cleared roads, helped stranded motorists, and carried out welfare checks as power and phone service failed in many areas. “We’re proud of the work our teams do every day to keep Tennesseans safe,” the agency wrote.
Statewide response and welfare checks
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and other state agencies reported heavy storm activity, with troopers handling thousands of calls, responding to hundreds of crashes, and performing numerous motorist assists on icy roads. WBBJ published a state release detailing those response totals and urging residents to stay home unless travel was absolutely necessary. The larger statewide effort brought together THP, National Guard units, and Homeland Security personnel to prioritize emergencies and support strained local agencies.
To keep local 9-1-1 lines from being overwhelmed by welfare-check requests, officials activated a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation hotline, 1-800-TBI-FIND. The line is staffed during daytime hours to take reports on people who may need checking on and then coordinate those checks with local responders. ActionNews5 reported that a Department of Military release explained how callers should be prepared with detailed address and location information. Officials also noted exceptions for Davidson County and asked residents to use the hotline instead of tying up local non-emergency numbers.
Why reaching Hinch Mountain mattered
Hinch Mountain is more than a scenic overlook. It hosts state and land-mobile radio infrastructure that carries crucial traffic for first responders, so getting crews to the summit during the storm meant helping repair and extend radio coverage while other systems were struggling. RadioReference lists the Hinch Mountain TACN/TNDOC site and its frequencies, underscoring why radio technicians were among those sent up the mountain. Local reporting in Crossville described outages, jackknifed trucks, and slick secondary roads that left some residents isolated while crews worked to reopen routes and restore service.
Officials have urged people to stay off the roads when possible, check on neighbors, and use available warming centers if needed. Anyone worried about a loved one they cannot reach can contact 1-800-TBI-FIND to request a welfare check. For ongoing information on road conditions and storm recovery, residents are encouraged to follow the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s winter weather updates, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and local media coverage. TWRA said its teams will keep supporting communities as conditions allow and thanked Tennesseans for their patience while recovery operations continue.
