Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam speaks to the Tennessee Press Association on Feb. 5, 2015, in Nashville.Gov. Bill Haslam has asked the Department of Health to investigate why 11 people froze to death during last month's winter storm.
One was a homeless man found dead within a thousand feet of the Community Kitchen shelter in Chattanooga. Another was a war veteran found dead in his trailer home in Sequatchie County without heat. Another was found dead outside his home in Polk County.
Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner said the homeless are most at risk for hypothermia, but people in homes can also die if their heat is out. The situation can be worse if a person is on medication or abusing alcohol.
Dreyzehner said that "neighbors checking neighbors" is the best means of preventing hypothermia deaths.
Dreyzehner said most of those who died from hypothermia probably had people who were worried about them but couldn't get out to check on them.