Mayor's Office of Emergency Management
Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County
- Karl F. Dean, Mayor
- Assistant Chief Charles Shannon, Fire Liason
- Kevin Penney, Deputy Director
- Org Chart
TN Severe Weather Awareness week starts February 19th!
Ask yourself this question: Am I REALLY prepared for severe weather in my area? Now, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have an Emergency Alert Radio to warn me of emergencies? Does it have battery back-up?
- Do I have an identified safe place if severe weather threatens me and my family?
- Do I have an emergency kit put together? Does it include the basic necessities?
- Do I have an emergency family plan if an emergency strikes?
Hopefully you answered yes to all these questions; but if you didn’t, we are here to help! Our site is full of important information to help you become better prepared for emergencies. Please let us know if you have any questions or need assistance in becoming prepared.
Why it is so important to be prepared?
In April of last year, tornadoes killed 316 people in the southeastern states (32 in TN). On April 27th, 199 tornadoes developed across 14 states causing over $4.2 billion in damages and injuring more than 2,400 people!
Last year alone, Tennessee was hit by a record number of 5 Presidential disaster declarations; the most of any state in the US last year!
SkyWarn storm spotter classes are on the schedule!
OEM is hosting the National Weather Service in several classes in the coming weeks. These classes are free and can teach you how to serve as the ears and eyes that share the “ground truth” with forecasters, and ultimately can save lives, right from your home! OEM is hosting the following classes:
- Saturday Feb. 18th, 10am-noon, South Police Precinct (5101 Harding Place)
- Thursday Feb. 23rd, 6p-8p, Hermitage Police Precinct (3701 James Kay Lane)
- Tuesday Feb. 28th, 2p-3p, Nashville Emergency Operations Center (email Heidi.Mariscal@nashville.gov to pre-register)
- Thursday March 8th 7p-9p Nashville Emergency Operations Center (email Heidi.Mariscal@nashville.gov to pre-register)
Help your local government by taking the Emergency Preparedness Survey
Emergencies can and do happen any time, at any location, and can affect only a few people, or mass populations. Nashville/Davidson County is not exempt from any emergency. It could happen here. This is why your local government is taking the proactive approach with emergency preparedness and directly asking its citizens that either work or live in Davidson County for their input. Your opinion will make a difference. This survey is completely voluntary. There is no specific group of Davidson County citizens being asked to complete this survey, and it is open to anyone who works or lives within Davidson County, TN.
Interested in learning more on how to be prepared? Sign up now for a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a program to train citizens from the community who form teams in geographical areas of the county, to train together on a regular basis, and work together during large scale disasters to assist their neighborhood and surrounding areas affected. Citizens in the community are trained on disaster preparedness, how to cut off utilities, put out small fires, administer disaster first aid, safely search for and rescue victims, organize themselves and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts. Volunteers must enroll in an initial 16 hour instructional course that is taught at a convenient location in the community. Once citizens successfully complete the initial 16 hour course, they then continue training with a CERT established. You can either start your own CERT in your area, or you can join one in your area.
Severe Weather – Are You Ready?
Spring is peak time for severe weather, so plan ahead! Severe weather should be taken seriously – it can be dangerous and harm both you and your property. During the spring and summer, Nashville has warm rapidly-changing weather patterns that routinely create conditions for one of nature's most violent storms - tornadoes. Learn more about these storms and other weather conditions.
Ready Nashville! Guides Now Available
Are you and your family prepared for a disaster? Emergency preparedness is as simple as planning ahead and the Ready Nashville guide was designed to help citizens help themselves. The guide describes many of the emergencies that could face our community and provides important information on how to respond and prepare. From Spring 2009 till September 2010, OEM staff had distributed more than 20,000 brochures to Nashville citizens at many community events.
A Household Preparedness GUIDE
New Homeland Security Advisory System
The US Dept of Homeland Security has replaced the color coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). Learn about the new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS).