About TEMA
The Tennessee Emergency Management Authority coordinates the state’s efforts to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and reduce the impacts of emergencies and disasters.
TEMA works with local, state, federal, nonprofit, private sector, and volunteer partners to help protect life and property across Tennessee. The agency supports communities before disasters happen, coordinates resources during emergencies, helps survivors and communities recover, and works to reduce future risk through planning, mitigation, training, and preparedness.
Our Mission
To coordinate preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts that help protect life and property and strengthen emergency management across Tennessee.
Our Vision
A prepared, resilient Tennessee where communities, partners, and individuals are ready to respond to emergencies and recover from disasters.
What We Do
TEMA serves as Tennessee’s coordinating agency for emergency management. The agency works across all phases of emergency management to support local jurisdictions, state agencies, and partner organizations.
TEMA’s work includes:
- Supporting emergency planning, training, and exercises.
- Coordinating state response operations during emergencies.
- Operating the State Emergency Operations Center.
- Supporting local emergency management agencies and first responders.
- Coordinating disaster recovery programs and assistance.
- Helping communities identify and reduce disaster risk.
- Supporting public preparedness and emergency information.
- Working with federal, state, local, nonprofit, private sector, and volunteer partners.
Supporting Tennessee Communities
Emergency management begins at the local level. TEMA works closely with county emergency management agencies, local governments, state departments, federal agencies, volunteer organizations, and community partners to support a coordinated approach to emergencies and disasters.
When local needs exceed available resources, TEMA helps coordinate state support and, when necessary, federal assistance. This partnership-based approach helps ensure Tennessee communities have access to the information, coordination, and resources needed before, during, and after disasters.
An All-Hazards Approach
Tennessee faces many types of hazards, including severe weather, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, hazardous materials incidents, infrastructure disruptions, public health emergencies, and other threats.
TEMA uses an all-hazards approach to emergency management. This means the agency plans and coordinates for many types of emergencies while focusing on the common capabilities needed to protect the public, support response operations, help communities recover, and reduce future impacts.
Building a More Resilient Tennessee
Preparedness is a shared responsibility. TEMA supports statewide resilience by helping individuals, families, communities, businesses, and partner organizations understand risks, make plans, stay informed, and take action before emergencies occur.
Through planning, coordination, mitigation, training, exercises, public information, and recovery support, TEMA works to strengthen Tennessee’s ability to withstand and recover from disasters.
Learn More About TEMA
Use the pages in this section to learn more about the agency, its leadership, history, organization, accreditation, career opportunities, and how to contact us.