Knowing a preparedness resource exists is useful. Knowing how to use it before you need it is what can make the difference.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) coordinates emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts across the state. As part of that work, TEMA recognizes that emergency planning cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach.
That is where TEMA Accessible comes in.
Created for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, TEMA Accessible provides practical guidance for thinking through the parts of an emergency that may require additional planning. Instead of focusing only on standard supplies, the resource asks people to consider how they would manage the things they rely on every day.
That may include communication, transportation, medications, medical equipment, technology, personal assistance, service animals, and trusted support people.
More Than a Basic Emergency Kit
TEMA Accessible helps individuals consider supplies that may not appear on a traditional emergency checklist.
Depending on the person, that could include extra hearing-aid batteries, prescription medications, eyeglasses, communication tools, backup charging options, equipment instructions, or familiar items that help with sensory or emotional regulation.
TEMA also encourages people to think ahead about transportation and to identify who may be available to assist if usual options are disrupted.
Technology is another important part of the guidance. Phones, tablets, communication devices, and medical equipment may all depend on power, making portable chargers, backup batteries, and other charging options important parts of planning.
Staying Connected to Emergency Information
TEMA recommends using multiple ways to receive emergency alerts rather than depending on a single source.
One tool available to Tennesseans is ReadyTN, which provides emergency preparedness information and connects users with updates and resources.
TEMA also maintains information for connecting with local emergency management agencies, helping residents learn how alerts, shelters, transportation, and other emergency services are handled in their own communities.
Accessible Information in ASL
TEMA has also worked with Tennessee deaf-community partners to develop American Sign Language preparedness videos.
Created in partnership with organizations including the Tennessee Council for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing and Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the videos provide another way for people to access emergency preparedness information in a format that meets their communication needs.
That commitment matters. Accessible emergency information should be available before, during, and after an emergency, not added as an afterthought.
Turn the Resource Into a Routine
TEMA Accessible is a strong starting point, but its greatest value comes from actually using it.
Visit the site. Review the guidance that applies to you. Download ReadyTN. Locate your county emergency management agency. Watch and save the ASL videos. Share the information with people who may need it.
The goal is not simply to know TEMA Accessible exists.
It is to make sure the resource is already familiar when you need it.
Explore TEMA Resources
- TEMA Accessible
- ReadyTN
- Build an Emergency Kit
- Local Emergency Management Agency Contacts
Watch, Save, Share
TEMA’s ASL preparedness videos are designed to make emergency information more accessible. Watch them before an emergency, save the resource for future reference, and share it with others who may benefit.