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Mayor, council issue proclamations honoring flood rescuers and declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Summary
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Chattanooga City Council and Mayor Tim Kelly presented a joint proclamation recognizing three men for rescuing motorists during Aug. 12 flooding and issued a proclamation designating October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and recognizing the Family Justice Center's work.
Mayor Tim Kelly and the Chattanooga City Council on Oct. 7 presented a joint proclamation honoring three men who helped rescue motorists during flash flooding on Interstate 24 on Aug. 12, 2025. The proclamation named Austin Camp, Troy Plemons and Brandon Shadwick and thanked EPB and Lawson Electric Company employees for ‘‘extraordinary commitment, courage, and professionalism.’'
The mayor read the proclamation at the council meeting, saying the named rescuers ‘‘risked their own safety to assist their fellow citizens’’ and that their ‘‘decisiveness to act . . . saved lives that day.’' The proclamation described the Aug. 12 flooding as having ‘‘presented unprecedented challenges to our community and infrastructure.’'
Councilwoman Jenny Burrus presented a separate council proclamation declaring October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, citing the local and national scale of intimate‑partner violence and naming Dr. Carol B. Burrows for her advocacy. The proclamation notes the Family Justice Center ‘‘served 905 victims in 2024’’ and highlighted the center’s training and partnership work.
Regina McDevitt, executive director of the Family Justice Center, thanked the council and described the center’s reach and programming. ‘‘On average, the Family Justice Center serves about a thousand people each year,’' McDevitt said, and she noted the center’s 10th annual conference and an Oct. 30 candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. on the Hamilton County Courthouse lawn.
Burrus also said City Hall and other civic buildings will be lit purple this week in recognition of domestic violence awareness. The council encouraged residents to wear purple ribbons throughout October and named ongoing collaborative efforts among law enforcement, advocates and service providers as central to supporting survivors and preventing violence.
No formal votes were recorded specifically for the proclamations; both documents were read and presented during the ceremonial portion of the council meeting. The Family Justice Center reception followed the proclamation presentation.
