Media Advisory: Tennesseans Must Make Preparation a Priority

NASHVILLE –- Preparedness is not a luxury that Tennesseans can take for granted. For many, the floods this year illustrated clearly the value of emergency preparedness and planning. This September marks the seventh annual National Preparedness month.

 

Please join the Tennessee Department of Safety, its Office of Homeland Security, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) for a kick-off to encourage residents to be ready…be set…be prepared.

 

WHO:          Dave Mitchell, Commissioner, Department of Safety;Rick Shipkowski, Deputy Director,   

                    Office of Homeland Security; James Bassham, TEMA Director; and local officials from  

                    some of the hardest hit communities affected by the flooding this year.

WHAT:         National Preparedness Month

WHEN:         Tuesday, September 7, 2010

                     1:00 p.m.

WHERE:       Tennessee National Guard Headquarters,

                     State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC)

                     3041 Sidco Drive

                     Nashville, Tennessee

 

State officials will focus on basic preparedness techniques as well as the recovery process. Topics will include how-to’s on staying informed, creating supply kits and developing emergency plans, while display tables and examples of such will also be featured. Additionally, Emergency Management Agency representatives from around the state will be on-hand to discuss their recent flood experiences.  

 

National Preparedness Month is sponsored by Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corp and the Ad Council. Ready is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation. Visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY for additional information.