KNOXVILLE-KNOX COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

GUIDES Are You Ready? Guide [PDF] Emergency Response Guidebook [PDF] Family Disaster Preparedness Guide [PDF] Preparing Makes Sense Guide [PDF] WEB SITES DisasterHelp.gov East TN Homeland Security Council FBI Knoxville Household Hazardous Waste Knox Area American Red Cross Knox Volunteer Rescue Squad Local Emergency Planning Committee (LPEC) Project Safe Neighborhoods Ready.gov TEMA TDEC Environmental Assistance Center Top 10 Websites on Emergency Management Alan Lawson, Deputy Director alawson@cityofknoxville.org Knoxville Knox County Emergency Management Agency 605 Bernard Avenue Knoxville, TN 37921 865-215-1166 Fax: 865-215-1177 Mission Statement "…..to protect the lives and property of the citizens and visitors of the City of Knoxville and Knox County by insuring mitigation of, preparation for, response to, and recovery from the effects of natural and man-made disasters, as well as national security concerns consistent with the resources provided." What is KEMA? The Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency is a joint City-County governmental office under the Chief elected officials (Mayor and County Executive) of the City of Knoxville and Knox County. The Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) is the central point of contact for local government for all major emergencies and disasters. KEMA works in partnership with local state and federal agencies as well as industry and volunteer organizations. KEMA's missions is defined in the Tennessee Code Annotated definition of disasters: severe weather, flooding, earthquake, drought, fire, enemy attacks, overt paramilitary actions, environmental contamination; industrial, nuclear or transportation accidents, energy emergencies to include transportation incidents involving nuclear materials. Emergency Management functions defined by TCA "without limitation" are fire fighting, law enforcement, medical, health, rescue, engineering, warning and communications services as well as nuclear, biological and chemical defense; evacuation, emergency welfare and transportation, and public utility restoration. KEMA provides support to a local government with a population in excess of 376,000 (not including the University of Tennessee) in a wide range of disaster planning, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery. KEMA's activities include: Coordinate local, state and federal aid for presidential disaster declarations, and emergencies. Coordinates civil emergency preparedness for peacetime radiological accidents including nuclear power plants and Department of Energy facilities. Provides training, education and exercises to enhance the professional development of local emergency management. Plans to ensure continuity of government and coordination of resources during local, state and national security emergencies. Emergency Operations Center "EOC" The Emergency Operations Center "EOC" is the central location for officials from City and County government, law enforcement, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Volunteer Aid Agencies, etc. to meet and coordinate response and recovery efforts during a disaster. Mobile Command Post Known as the "Blue Goose", this command, control and communications vehicle was funded through FEMA, TEMA, KEMA and private donations. The Blue Goose has been used on police, fire, haz-mat incidents and special events. Depending upon the situation it is primarily staffed by police, fire, EMS, rescue, EMA or E-911 personnel to assist Incident Managers. Duty Officer A duty officer is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each is certified as and Emergency Medical Technician, hazardous materials specialist and sworn as a special police officer with the Knoxville Police Department. The duty officer is contacted through emergency dispatch centers such as Knox County 9-1-1 or the State Emergency Operations Center. Responsibilities include response to: Technical Emergencies such as major fires, explosions, mass casualty incidents, hazardous materials, major air, rail, marine, highway or pipeline accidents. Natural Emergencies such as tornado, flooding, severe weather, or wildfires. National Security Concerns such as civil disturbances, acts of terrorism and nuclear safeguards of plants and facilities. Training KEMA provides training to emergency responders and others who have a special responsibility in emergencies. In 2001, over 1000 people participated in this training. Terrorism Preparedness KEMA has sponsored an interagency work group on terrorism issues since 1998. This group has examined and revised procedures for response to terrorism threats. Members of the workgroup include law enforcement, fire, EMS, EMA, Public Health, utilities, FBI, State Lab and DMORT. LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) KEMA is the point of contact for SARA Title III - Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. It also administers the LEPC, which has members from Emergency Services and Private Industry. Meetings are open to the public and are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 8 am at Shoney's restaurant at Kingston Pike and Walker Springs Road. View current LEPC newsleter » Hazards in Knox County Severe Weather - There have been two tornadoes observed in Knox County since 1993. An F1 tornado occurred in Fountain City in 1995 and an FO in Powell in 2000. There have been only 2 tornado related fatalities in Knox County since 1953. On average, Knox County experiences severe flooding or windstorm damage every 2 years. The most significant snow storm was the 'Blizzard of '93', when the Emergency Operations Center was open continuously for 7 days. Hazardous Materials incidents are possible due to the major interstates and railways in Knox County on which hazardous materials are transported. There are also airports, gas and fuel pipelines and river barges. Major facilities surrounding Knox County include the Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, East Tennessee Technology Park (formerly K-25) and the Y-12 facility. I-75 and I-40 are routes used by DOE to courier shipments to and from Oak Ridge. Earthquakes - A fault line was discovered in this area in 1993. In 1976 Knoxville experienced a 4.6 earthquake. Disaster Recovery Funds Knoxville and Knox County, Town of Farragut, and McGhee Tyson Airport have received over $3 million dollars in disaster recovery funds from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and TEMA (Tennessee Emergency Management Agency) for the Blizzard of 93, Floods in 1994, Floods 1998, and the Tornado in 2000.