Knox County Tennessee

Emergency Preparedness Division

Emergency Preparedness Division

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Is your family ready for a disaster?

In East Tennessee, the types of incidents that are most likely to occur are:

  1. Severe weather – storms, snow, ice, flooding
  2. Hazardous materials accidents by truck, rail or at a facility
  3. Severe illness – outbreaks such as the flu or other disease
  4. Residential fire

Some of the most important things you and your family can do to be prepared for a disaster is to have an Emergency Supply Kit in your home and rehearse an Emergency Communication Plan for your family.


Emergency Supply Kit List

  • Water – one gallon per person per day for at least three days (for drinking and sanitation)
  • Food – at least a three-day supply per person (non-perishable)
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food if kit contains canned food
  • Local maps

Additional items to consider adding to an Emergency Supply Kit

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  • Cash or traveler’s checks and change
  • Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book and information from www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person and consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate
  • Complete change of clothing including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes and consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper (When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine hygiene products and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
  • Cell phone charger

This list should be adapted to suit your personal family needs. You should also consider having at least two emergency supply kits, one full kit at home and a smaller, portable kit in your workplace or vehicle.


Emergency Communications Plan

  1. Choose an emergency contact person, a friend or family member that lives in another city or state. Get that person’s cell, home and work numbers and email address. In the event that family members are separated during a disaster, everyone should call the emergency contact person and check in.
  2. Draw the floor plan of your home. Show the locations of exits (doors and windows) and map out escape routes, and practice exiting the building. Mark the locations of emergency supplies and utilities.
  3. In the case of a fire, choose a place outside of your home for your family to meet (mailbox, end of driveway, etc.).
  4. Choose a second meeting location outside your neighborhood in the event you cannot get back to your home.
  5. Enter all this information in everyone’s cell phone under “Contacts.” You can label it “Emergency Procedures.” Discuss your plan in detail with all of your family members to decrease confusion in the case of a disaster.

Links

For more information and to find apps you can download to your smartphone, check out:

  1. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
  2. American Red Cross
  3. FEMA.gov

Contact Us

If you have questions or would like to speak to someone at the Knox County Health Department about Emergency Preparedness, please call 865-215-5093 or email health@knoxcounty.org.

To stay informed of any emergencies or health threats in Knox County, follow the Knox County Health Department on Facebook and Twitter.

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Need to report a public
health emergency?

Call 865-215-5093

Have Questions? Call: (865) 215-5555 Email: Health@knoxcounty.org

On the first Wednesday of every month, all KCHD offices and clinics are closed in the morning for staff in-service. On these days, the main location (140 Dameron Ave.) will open at 11 a.m. and the West Clinic (1028 Old Cedar Bluff) will open at 11:30 a.m.

Clinics will also open at 10:30 a.m. (Main location) and 11 a.m. (West Clinic) on the following Wednesdays: April 17 and July 17. All other offices will open at 8 a.m.