Media Inivited to View State Communications Vehicle Exercise at State Fire Academy

First responders from 13 counties, 11 state agencies participating in full-scale drill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is holding the second in a state-wide series of exercise designed to improve interoperable communications between local, state and federal agencies when responding to a major disaster. The exercise will start on March 9 with a series of classroom sessions and move to a full-scale exercise on March 10.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY

Date:

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Time:

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
 

Location:

Tennessee Fire and Codes Enforcement Academy
2161 Unionville-Deason Rd.
Bell Buckle, TN

On-Site Contact for media:

Jeremy Heidt
615-741-0482
jheidt@tnema.org

Members of the media are encouraged to attend the exercise between the hours of 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10. You will be able to observe the more than 100 first responders from various jurisdictions operating equipment from more than 18 communications vehicles or mobile command platforms.

Interoperability is more than a fancy buzz-word; it means knowing how to use what you have to talk to the people that show up during an emergency. TEMA is committed to ensuring that state agencies and local governments can take full advantage of the communications assets that currently reside in each group to successfully manage the challenges faced during large disasters.