Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Carter Lawrence (pictured above, left) and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti (pictured above, right) said that their offices are ready to work together to ensure insurance companies fulfill their contractual and legal obligations and that Tennesseans affected by the winter storm receive fair and prompt handling of their insurance claims.
The statement follows widespread damage caused by Winter Storm Fern, which brought ice, snow, and freezing temperatures across Middle Tennessee last week, leaving many residents without power – some who continue to be affected by outages.
Lawrence and Skrmetti said recovery efforts are ongoing and emphasized that consumer protection will remain a priority as Tennesseans begin the rebuilding process.
Team TDCI is sharing important insurance and recovery information with Tennessee residents who sustained damages from ice, snow, and freezing temperatures caused by #WinterStormFern. Visit: https://t.co/Wk9EU17h6Z pic.twitter.com/otU6K1kFpX
— TN Department of Commerce & Insurance (@TNCommerceInsur) February 2, 2026
“Our thoughts and prayers are with every Tennessean affected by this disaster. Some are without homes, many are without power, and the focus needs to be on keeping them safe and getting utilities, roads, and structures fixed as quickly as possible,” Lawrence and Skrmetti said.
“As the ice thaws and repairs proceed, Tennesseans will rebuild. During that process, those affected Tennesseans will deserve fair and prompt handling of their insurance claims,” the state officials added.
Lawrence and Skrmetti said their offices expect insurance companies to meet their obligations and warned that the state will act if insurers wrongfully deny claims or engage in unfair practices.
“If any company should fail to do right by its customers, if it wrongfully denies claims or otherwise engages in unfair practices, we will not hesitate to act,” they said.
For residents who believe a claim has been wrongfully denied, TDCI can mediate between policyholders and insurance companies for policies written in Tennessee. Complaints can be filed online or by mail.
Residents with insurance questions or concerns can contact TDCI at 615-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “AG Jonathon Skrmetti” by the TN AG Office and “Insurance Commissioner Carter Lawrence” is by the TDCI.
