The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has activated the Tennessee Emergency Management Plan and declared a State of Emergency at 9 p.m., CST, on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.

TEMA reports road conditions in Tennessee are deteriorating rapidly with motorists backed up on two major Interstates, and a number of counties requesting assistance with various response actions.

TEMA reports the current situation as the following as of 4 a.m. on February 17:

• I-40 east bound at mile marker 156 in Hickman County is backed up 12-miles into Humphreys County to around mile marker 152.
   • I-24 west bound from the 96 mile marker to I-840 is to be closed down due to crashes and a previous back up.
   • Power outages have spiked in Tennessee as of 9 p.m., CST, currently at 55,682 customers, impacting at total of 19 counties with Bedford, Davidson, Fentress, Knox, Monroe and Smith having the highest outages.

Response actions reported by TEMA include:

• TEMA has requested the Tennessee National Guard for State Active Duty to deploy initially a 10-person crew with five Humvees for motorist wellness checks.
   • THP has requested National Guard specifically for the Humphreys County back-up on I-40 east bound.
   • TEMA is transporting 216 bottles of water and 225 ready packs are being transported to the backup on I-40
   • Roane County has requested five chainsaw crews from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to assist with debris clearing.
   • Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has requested salt for the I-65 north at the I-840 east bound entrance ramp.
   • There are nine shelters open in the State in Caryville, Cookeville, , Crossville, Dyersburg, Jellico, Madisonville, Manchester and Monteagle.

 Authorities warn residents to brace for ongoing problems as temperatures are not expected to rise above the freezing mark on Tuesday and will be bitterly cold Tuesday evening. Middle Tennessee remains under an ice storm warning until 9 a.m. Tuesday.