Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
Name	Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
Formed	1951
Jurisdiction	State of Tennessee
Headquarters	Nashville, Tennessee
Parent agency	Tennessee Military Department
Chief1 name	Chief of the Agency

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is the primary state-level civil emergency organization for the State of Tennessee, coordinating preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, technological incidents, and public health emergencies. TEMA interfaces with federal partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state entities like the Tennessee Department of Health, and local authorities including county emergency management offices across Tennessee. The agency operates under statutory authorities established by the Tennessee Code Annotated and collaborates with national organizations such as the National Guard Bureau, American Red Cross, and United States Department of Homeland Security.

History

TEMA traces its institutional roots to post-World War II civil defense efforts and the establishment of state civil defense offices modeled after federal programs including the Civil Defense Act of 1950 and activities tied to the Cold War. Over decades, TEMA evolved alongside major events including coordination for the Tennessee Valley Authority flood responses, responses to the Super Outbreak (1974) tornadoes, and statewide mobilizations during the Great Flood of 2010. The agency adapted after the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 1979 and the passage of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, refining roles in mitigation after assignments from the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and lessons from incidents such as the Chattanooga floods and responses to Hurricane Katrina evacuations impacting Tennessee evacuees. Legislative changes in the Tennessee Code Annotated and executive orders from governors like Don Sundquist, Phil Bredesen, and Bill Haslam shaped TEMA’s statutory responsibilities and integration with the Tennessee National Guard. TEMA’s history includes major collaborative responses with organizations such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and non-governmental groups like Catholic Charities USA during complex emergencies.

Mission and Responsibilities

TEMA’s mission centers on protecting lives, property, and infrastructure in Tennessee through preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. The agency executes responsibilities authorized by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Act and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, coordinating statewide incident management in partnership with FEMA Region IV, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and local emergency management agencies. Responsibilities include disaster declaration coordination with the Governor of Tennessee, administration of disaster assistance programs aligned with Small Business Administration disaster loan programs, and implementation of hazard mitigation planning consistent with the National Mitigation Framework and guidance from the Department of Homeland Security. TEMA supports public health incident actions with agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during outbreaks like H1N1 influenza pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organization and Leadership

TEMA is organized within the Tennessee Military Department and led by an appointed director who reports to the Governor of Tennessee and coordinates with the Adjutant General of Tennessee for National Guard support. The organizational structure includes divisions for operations, preparedness, recovery, mitigation, logistics, communications, and finance, working with partners like the National Weather Service, United States Geological Survey, and Environmental Protection Agency. Leadership interacts with elected officials including members of the Tennessee General Assembly and municipal executives from cities such as Nashville, Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Chattanooga, Tennessee to align resources during incidents. TEMA collaborates with regional bodies including the Southeast Regional Fusion Center and national networks like the National Emergency Management Association.

Programs and Services

TEMA administers programs such as the Tennessee Hazard Mitigation Plan, the state emergency operations center (SEOC), disaster recovery centers, and public assistance and individual assistance coordination under FEMA frameworks. Services include damage assessment coordination with county emergency management agencies, volunteer and donations management aligned with Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, and radiological emergency preparedness for facilities like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. TEMA manages grant programs in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Economic Development Administration to support mitigation projects and infrastructure resilience. Additional programs include continuity of operations planning with entities such as the Tennessee Department of Education, logistics support with Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, and debris management contracts involving private sector partners like US Army Corps of Engineers contractors and regional vendors.

Emergency Operations and Incident Response

TEMA activates the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate multi-agency responses to incidents such as floods, tornadoes, wildfires, industrial accidents, and public health emergencies. The agency implements the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System to integrate responders from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Memphis Police Department, Knoxville Fire Department, and volunteer groups including Tennessee VOAD. During major incidents, TEMA coordinates federal requests through FEMA Region IV, requests National Guard support via the National Guard Bureau, and partners with the United States Coast Guard for riverine incidents and with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for weather guidance. TEMA-led responses have interfaced with utilities such as Tennessee Valley Authority for power restoration and with the American Red Cross for shelter operations.

Training, Exercises, and Public Education

TEMA conducts training and exercises ranging from tabletop exercises to full-scale exercises in collaboration with the FEMA National Training and Education Division, the Emergency Management Institute, and academic partners like University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University. The agency offers Incident Command System certification courses, hazard-specific workshops, and whole-community outreach programs including preparedness messaging with media partners like Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Public Information Office and local broadcasters such as WSMV-TV, WMC-TV, and WVLT-TV. Public education campaigns align with national observances such as National Preparedness Month and engage organizations like American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and community partners across cities including Clarksville, Tennessee and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Funding and Partnerships

TEMA’s funding derives from state appropriations by the Tennessee General Assembly, federal grants administered by FEMA, programmatic funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, and project grants from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Partnerships include interagency agreements with Tennessee Department of Transportation, mutual aid compacts with neighboring states such as Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, and Virginia, and collaboration with non-governmental organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, and faith-based groups. TEMA engages private sector partners, utilities like Duke Energy, and regional planning commissions such as the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to enhance resilience and recovery financing mechanisms including mitigation grant programs and public-private partnership initiatives.

Category:State emergency management agencies of the United States