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Knoxville Knox County Emergency Management outlines disaster response and urges household preparedness
Summary
The director of Knoxville‑Knox County Emergency Management described the role of the emergency operations center, recent activations (including a nine‑day winter storm activation), and urged residents to create household emergency plans and kits and to identify meeting locations for communication failures.
Colin Ickes, director of the Knoxville‑Knox County Emergency Management Agency, told the Police Advisory and Review Committee that the agency coordinates local planning and response for major emergencies and disasters, and that the city and county are seeing major events more frequently.
"Our role is to prepare for major emergencies and disasters, and when they do occur, to coordinate and support the response on behalf of local government," Ickes said.
Ickes described the agency’s role operating the local emergency operations center — now housed at the Public Safety Complex — where representatives from police, fire, public works, non‑profits and other partners gather to share information and solve complex problems during crises. He said Knoxville has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1963 and has seen a rise in the frequency and cost of major emergencies, noting that the last 20 years saw twice as many declarations as the prior 30.
Ickes reviewed recent activations: the January winter storm prompted a nine‑day activation of the emergency operations center; an August tornado struck the area last year; and February 2019 produced the worst flooding on record for much of East Tennessee. He also described more routine incidents the agency supports, including a recent hazardous‑materials response on Kingston Pike where a truck spilled hydrochloric acid, temporarily closing the roadway.
For residents, Ickes urged practical preparedness steps: have a household emergency plan with contact information and two meeting places in case cell service fails; assemble an emergency kit with documents and supplies to grab and go; and include items tailored to household needs such as medications, child care supplies or pet needs. He pointed people toward preparedness resources on the American Red Cross and FEMA websites.
Ickes said the agency works closely with KPD and other partners during activations, and praised recent improvements in KPD incident leadership. He asked committee members to help spread preparedness messages and mentioned ongoing partnerships to strengthen outreach and support for vulnerable residents during emergencies.
