A series of disaster response exercises taking place across the state this week, under the name “Vigilant Guard 2025.”.
Putnam County EMA Director Brandon Smith said this event focuses on statewide capabilities and multi-state coordination during a large scale event like an earthquake. Smith said Putnam County’s participation is limited.
“We don’t directly participate in the exercises,” Smith said. “We indirectly participate because we will have requests from TEMA for polling our availability of resources. They’ll look at what we’re capable of doing if this were a real event. But only a few counties and only a few specific areas are really being tested with this exercises. It is primarily statewide coordination focused.”
Smith said the exercises are a good time to remind his department that an earthquake in the Upper Cumberland is possible. Smith said the county’s emergency planning is focused on all possible disasters.
“So, all of the components of our emergency plan can be applied to an earthquake, a tornado. a fire, a flood, or whatever disaster may come our way.” Smith said. “Certainly earthquakes are a little more challenging because many times they’re much larger geographical area.”
Smith said he encourages everyone to think about earthquakes and to create a home safety plan in the event of any emergency situation.
“You can go to ready.gov and build your own communications plan,” Smith said. “How you’re going to communicate during or after a disaster. Build your home supply kit. We recommend a 72 hour emergency kit for an earthquake.”
The series of exercises being conducted by the Tennessee Military Department and TEMA.
