Navigating Disasters, Building Resilience

Growing up in Sumner County, Chris Johnson had his sights set far beyond Tennessee. 

“I wanted to be an oceanographer as a kid, because of Jacques Cousteau on Saturday mornings,” said Johnson. 

While he had an interest in the Saturday morning series that showcased marine life, his life had a different plan. Instead of the open sea, Johnson found his calling in public service and emergency management, right in his own community. 

“You know, back then, it wasn’t a big deal. Emergency management was not as well-known as is today,” said Johnson. “I found it interesting, and it was unique.”

 Johnson started his career with the Tennessee Emergency Management in the State Watch Point, a common starting place for those who want to work with the agency. After about five years in Tennessee’s notification center for emergency incidents, activities and events, Johnson moved to the field, serving as a District Coordinator and later as a Regional Director in Middle Tennessee. He has since been promoted to Assistant Director of the Operations & Field Services Division, where he oversees statewide disaster response efforts. 

“My days are never the same,” said Johnson. “In my role, there are many opportunities, so I don’t get tied into working on one single report over and over and over.” 

Johnson emphasizes the importance of emergency management at the local level, where disasters are most immediately felt and recovery is led.  

“Disasters happen locally, so we want someone there who knows the community,” he said. “The state will provide support, but we’re not going to be there every day after the disaster ends. Having a local emergency manager means better relationships with citizens and more effective recovery.” 

Still, Johnson acknowledges a challenge facing the profession: awareness. 

“I tell this to pretty much everybody in the field,” Johnson said. “You can go into a second-grade classroom, and you ask kids what a firefighter does and they're going to know what that is. You can ask them what a police officer does and they're going to know what that is. If you ask them what an emergency manager does, they don't even know it exists and neither does the teacher.” 

This August marked the first-ever National Emergency Management Awareness Month, introduced by the International Association of Emergency Managers. TEMA is proud to join this initiative, not just in August but year-round, by helping build awareness of the profession and spotlighting the vital role emergency managers play in protecting communities and organizations. 

From the Watch Point to the field, Johnson’s career reflects a steady commitment to helping Tennessee communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. His journey may not have led to the ocean, but it’s kept him close to home, serving the people of Tennessee when they need it most.