Breaking Ground 126: Emergency Preparedness

"Don't be scared, be prepared." That's a line from Nashville Severe Weather, one of our Executive Director's favorite resources. It's also the heart of our 2026 Summer Issue.

Emergencies can happen to anyone. But getting ready for them looks different when you have a disability. Over the years, we've heard some scary stories. A former Council member got stuck in her dorm room during an evacuation. A Partners in Policymaking® graduate was trapped in an attic during a flood. And during the pandemic, much of our community couldn't get information they could actually use.

Issue 126 takes stories like these and links them to the choices made in government. That's the work the Council is here to do.

In this issue, you'll see how disasters don't hit everyone the same way, and why help often falls short for the people who need it most. You'll learn about the Council's new work with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Department of Health to make sure people with disabilities are part of the state's emergency plans. And you'll find simple steps you and your family can take to be ready before trouble hits.

Whether you're making a plan for yourself, a family member, or your whole community, we hope this issue helps you feel ready.

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Breaking Ground - Issue 126

Access the PDF version of Breaking Ground 126 here.

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^{Subscriptions to Breaking Ground are free and available through the Council website. Visit tn.gov/cdd to subscribe or contact us by phone or email with subscription updates or requests, and please include name and mailing or email address. This project was supported in part by grant number 2101TNSCDD, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.}