State Agencies Urge Residents to be Prepared

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Department of Safety, its Office of Homeland Security (OHS), and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) held a joint-news conference today to kick-off the seventh annual National Preparedness Month at the state’s National Guard headquarters in Nashville. The event was organized to encourage Tennesseans to make emergency preparedness a priority.  

 

“The recent flooding experienced in Tennessee is just another reminder that every citizen needs to prepare for the safety and security of themselves and their loved ones, as well as to put a plan in place for the recovery process,” said TEMA Director James Bassham. “Developing a plan before a disaster strikes will set the tone for what happens after.”

 

The first step towards emergency preparedness is education. Citizens should recognize the risk for natural disasters or be able to identify potential hazards in the region or community; know how to be stay informed on community emergency plans; and how to create an emergency communications plan and disaster supplies kit. Basic disaster response skills can be met through the Tennessee Citizen Corps program and its’ Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). 

 

“We give people the knowledge and ability to be self-sufficient in the midst of a disaster,” said Anna Smith, Tennessee Citizens Corp Program Coordinator. “CERT graduates may be the first responders, in some areas, so it’s important that they are confident in the knowledge they’ve gained and trained to act as such.”

 

While natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, snow storms and earthquakes are present possibilities, acts of terrorism have also become a realistic threat in today’s society. Preparing for a terrorist attack is much the same as it is for other emergencies – be alert, remain informed, and be prepared.

 

“Terrorism is a very real part of our lives today, and everyone can make a difference by actively participating in homeland security,” said Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Some general guidelines to follow include being aware of your surroundings and reporting any suspicious or unusual behavior, packages or devices to your local authorities immediately. The rule of thumb is, ‘If you see something, say something.’ ”

 

Office of Homeland Security Deputy Director Rick Shipkowski adds that Tennesseans can report suspicious activities online at http://state.tn.us/homelandsecurity/report_susp_act.htm or by calling 1(877) 250-2333, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

For more National Preparedness Month tips, visit www.tn.gov/homelandsecurity , while information on state Emergency Management offices can be found online at TEMA’s website at www.tnema.org.

 

For Additional Information Contact: Tennessee Citizens Corps State Coordinator, Anna Smith (615) 741-1085 or www.citizencorps.gov

 

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.