📋 Tender Overview
You dont need to do everything today. TEMA is encouraging Tennesseans to make emergency preparedness part of everyday life, one manageable action at a time. Friday, October 23, 2026 | 10:54am By Joshua Ogunyemi, Tennessee Emergency Management Authority What does it take to be prepared for an emergency? For some, the answer might be a generator, a fully stocked emergency go-kit or a long list of supplies. Those things can certainly help, but they arent the only ways to get ready. And for many Tennessee households, theyre not always practical or affordable. At the Tennessee Emergency Management Authority (TEMA), we want Tennesseans to know that preparedness doesnt have to begin with a major purchase. Sometimes, it starts with a conversation around the dinner table. A little preparation goes a long way. Think about the things you could do in just a few minutes. You could save an emergency contact in your phone, check that your weather alerts are enabled or talk with your family about where to meet if you become separated during an emergency. The next time youre shopping, you might pick up an extra flashlight or pack of batteries for your emergency kit. At home, you could identify a safe place to shelter, gather important documents or practice your familys emergency plan. None of these actions requires you to do everything at once. But each one helps you build on what youve already started. And thats the idea behind small-step preparedness: Start where you are, use what you have and keep building. A plan is only useful if you know how to use it. Preparing for an emergency isnt just about gathering supplies. Its also about knowing what to do when normal routines are disrupted. If severe weather approaches, does everyone in your household know where to go? If the power goes out, how will you stay informed? If you need to leave home, what will you take, and how will you contact your loved ones? These are conversations worth having before an emergency arrives. Just as importantly, practice your plan. Walk through your sheltering location, review emergency contacts and talk about what might change if someone needs additional assistance. Every household is different, so every plan should reflect the people, pets, responsibilities and needs within it. Before, during and after. TEMAs approach to preparedness extends beyond getting ready for the next storm. Before an emergency, understanding local hazards and taking practical steps can help reduce risk. During an emergency, having a plan, receiving reliable warnings and following instructions from local officials can help people make informed decisions. And after an emergency, knowing where to find important records, how to document damage safely and where to turn for assistance can help households begin recovering with care. These steps are connected. What we do today can make tomorrows challenges easier to navigate. Building a more prepared Tennessee, together Making preparedness approachable also means bringing the conversation into places people already know and trust. Through ReadyTN resources and community partnerships, TEMA is working to make preparedness, response and recovery information more accessible to families and communities across the state. Our goal isnt to make preparedness feel like one more impossible task. Its to help Tennesseans recognize the meaningful steps they can take in the course of everyday life. So heres a place to start: Choose one preparedness action today. Tomorrow, build on it. A more resilent Tennessee doesnt happen all at once. It happens one small preparedness step at a time. Start your household plan: https://www.tn.gov/tema/new-tema/prepare/make-a-plan.html
