EXEMPLARY PRACTICES IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
A Chronology of Historic Disasters in Tennessee
Program Description: This compilation of 200 years of Tennessee disasters details several hundred incidents representing more than 50 types of disasters, including transportation accidents (air, rail, water, and highway); severe weather (tornadoes, slowrise floods, flash floods, droughts, severe cold and heat); earthquakes and geological failures; hazardous materials incidents; dam failures; mining and industrial accidents; explosions and fires; epidemics; civil disturbances; and others.
This growing data base is ideal for use in hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness.
The data have been used in developing comprehensive and credible scenarios for disaster drills and exercises, as well as in State and local emergency plans and procedures. Much of the data has been published. The data base is the only such comprehensive record known to exist.
Evaluation Information: The information in the data base has been used by a variety of agencies and individuals statewide to develop plans, other documents, and strategies to educate the public about potential disasters. Some of these agencies include FEMA, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Oral and written presentations have also been made on how the data was compiled; it appeared in the proceedings of the American Society of Professional Emergency Planners in 1994.
Annual Budget: The data base was compiled by a volunteer (the author).
Sources of Funding: N/A.
Program Type: A historical compilation (data base) of State and local disasters in Tennessee that have occurred over the past two centuries.
Target Population: State personnel (to compile State and local emergency plans); American Red Cross (for State and area plans); colleges (for classes in safety, emergency management, and geography); State and local publications; and emergency management personnel.
Setting: Agencies, individuals, and educational institutions statewide.
Project Startup Date: 1986.
Contact:
Allen Reese Coggins
Emergency Project Manager
Emergency Management Laboratory
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Box 117
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117
Tel: 423-576-0975
Fax: 423-576-9383
Last Modified: Wednesday, 29-Mar-2006 12:33:36 EST