RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN (WGNS) - As Rutherford County continues digging out from the ice and snow storm that swept across Middle Tennessee, state officials have launched a coordinated effort to check on Tennesseans who haven’t been heard from since the worst of the weather hit. With thousands still without power across the region—including pockets of Rutherford County—state leaders say they are stepping in to support local agencies stretched thin by days of emergency response.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced that Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and State Homeland Security agents will take the lead on welfare checks for residents whose families have been unable to reach them. The move comes as temperatures remain dangerously low and road conditions continue to challenge first responders.

To support the effort, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has activated its statewide 800-TBI-FIND hotline—only the third time in the agency’s history it has been used for disaster-related family reconnection. The activation came at the request of TEMA as communities across Middle and West Tennessee work to recover.

Commissioner Jeff Long said the goal is to relieve pressure on local 9‑1‑1 centers and ensure emergency calls can get through. Colonel Matt Perry emphasized that troopers will continue patrolling Tennessee roadways while also conducting welfare checks “efficiently and compassionately.” Deputy Commissioner Greg Mays noted that Homeland Security agents understand the urgency families feel when they cannot reach loved ones.

For Rutherford County, where icy roads, fallen trees, and scattered outages have kept some residents isolated, the statewide effort offers an additional layer of support. Troopers and Homeland Security agents will work alongside local law enforcement and emergency management teams to locate individuals reported missing or out of contact since the storm.

Families who have been unable to reach someone since the storm are encouraged to call 1‑800‑TBI‑FIND, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and provide as much information as possible to assist responders.

The state says the goal is simple: no Tennessee family should be left wondering about the safety of a loved one in the aftermath of this storm.