Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Management Agency

Just how prepared are you and your family for an emergency in your community, like a power outage, major weather conditions, or a natural disaster?
Emergency workers may not be able to reach everyone right away, and in some cases it may take 3 or more days for help to arrive. What would you do if you had no electricity, no gas, no water and no telephone service? Having a plan for your family and their needs will help ensure their safety and comfort during these difficult times.

Individual & Family: Disaster Awareness, Response, and Recovery Workbook

The DARR Workbook provides an overview of all natural and man-made hazards that are prevalent in Memphis and Shelby County. In addition, it provides guidance for the development of a home disaster plan. This disaster plan includes responses to such hazards as fire, gas leaks, tornadoes, lightning / severe storms, severe winter weather, etc. The plan guide in this workbook can be developed for individuals and families to protect you and your loved ones in the event of a hazardous event.

Small Business Disaster Plan

You have made a significant investment of time and resources into making your small business a success. Can you take the chance that, in spite of all your good efforts, your business may have to close due to a severe storm or a flood? How do you take control of the possible impacts of a natural or man made disaster on your business?

Here is your answer. The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) in partnership with Memphis Regional Chamber is pleased to present to you the Small Business Disaster Recovery Planning Program.

The Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Management will come to your business to help you get started on developing a disaster recovery plan. In addition, we have partnered with the Memphis Regional Chamber to review the plans during their creation and/or after you have completed the plan.

Emergency Management Guide for Business & Industry

This guide provides step-by-step advice on how to create and maintain a comprehensive emergency management program. It can be used by manufacturers, corporate offices, retailers, utilities or any organization where a sizable number of people work or gather. Whether you operate from a high-rise building or an industrial complex; whether you own, rent or lease your property; whether you are a large or small company; the concepts in this guide will apply. To begin, you need not have in-depth knowledge of emergency management. What you need is the authority to create a plan and a commitment from the chief executive officer to make emergency management part of your culture. If you already have a plan, use this guide as a resource to assess and update your plan.

Shelter in Place Guidelines

If a hazardous chemical emergency occurs in your neighborhood, the most important thing to remember is to take action immediately. During a hazardous chemical emergency you should go inside and stay put. This procedure is called "Shelter in Place". You should use a single room in your house such as the bathroom or bedroom. If possible, pick a room with a toilet, phone access (cell is acceptable), water and a radio/TV.

Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide for Individuals & Families

This guide is designed to help you understand the threat of a pandemic flu outbreak in our country and your community. It describes common sense actions that you can take in preparing for a pandemic. Each individual and family should know both the magnitude of what can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions you can take to help lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic on you and your community.

Pets and Disaster - Why You Need to Be Prepared

Tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, hazardous material spills—disasters can strike anytime, anywhere. If you think you will never have to evacuate unless you live in a floodplain, near an earthquake fault line, or in a coastal area, you may be tragically mistaken. It is imperative that you make preparations to evacuate your family and your pets in any situation. In the event of a disaster, proper preparation will pay off with the safety of your family and pets. There are steps that you can take to be better prepared to care for your pets in a disaster. Here are some emergency tips and planning information from The Humane Society of the United States.

Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People with Disabilities

The guide outlines the four elements of evacuation information that occupants need: notification, way finding, use of the way, and assistance. Also included is a Personal Emergency Evacuation Planning Checklist that building services managers and people with disabilities can use to design a personalized evacuation plan. The annexes give government resources and text based on the relevant code requirements and ADA criteria.

Practical Information on Crisis Planning for Schools and Communities

Taking action now can save lives, prevent injury, and minimize property damage in the moments of a crisis. The importance of reviewing and revising school and district plans cannot be underscored enough, and Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities is designed to help you navigate this process. The Guide is intended to give schools, districts, and communities the critical concepts & components of good crisis planning, stimulate thinking about the crisis preparedness process, & provide examples of promising practices.