Flood Ready Tennessee announced the launch of Protect Tennessee, a statewide effort to promote resilience against all natural hazards. The new coalition builds upon Flood Ready Tennessee’s commitment to ensuring every county in the state is equipped with the necessary resources to prepare for flooding disasters.
Natural disasters cost Tennesseans millions of dollars, and in the worst cases, their lives. The need for statewide resilience planning and engagement has never been more critical. According to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), natural disasters will continue to cost Tennesseans over $500 million annually. Wildfires alone cost Tennessee taxpayers over $4 million every year. Protect Tennessee aims to bring together experts and local leaders to ensure they have the resources, strategies, and tools they need to protect Tennesseans from the impact of natural disasters.
“The decision to extend our efforts shows that we are dedicated to keeping our communities safe from a multitude of risks, not just floods,” said Dwain Land, President of the Tennessee Renewable Energy and Economic Development Council (TREEDC) and a member of Protect Tennessee.
“Floods are still a significant concern, but we know that Tennessee needs a more comprehensive approach that addresses threats like wildfires, tornadoes, and earthquakes. We want to make sure that every community has the information and strategies to protect their residents and infrastructure.”
Protect Tennessee will continue to work closely with its 150 coalition members from 67 counties to support resilience efforts by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and other state departments. By fostering partnerships at the community level, Protect Tennessee hopes to ensure that cities and counties are getting the resources and attention that they need to mitigate the damage caused by natural hazards.
“As the former Mayor of Dunlap, TN, I’ve seen firsthand the damage that floods, tornadoes, and other disasters can cause,” Land said. “These types of disasters can and will happen again. We must ensure that all communities in Tennessee have ability to withstand disasters and bounce back quickly.”
As part of its expanded focus, Protect Tennessee unveiled a new website, ProtectTN.com, featuring resources on resilience tailored to the specific challenges posed by different natural disasters. The coalition will host roundtables and gather advisory groups to raise awareness of the need to support resilience planning.
About Protect Tennessee:
Protect Tennessee, formerly known as Flood Ready Tennessee, is a coalition of local elected officials, experts, and citizens advocating for increased investments in resilience planning. Over the past two years, the coalition was focused on flood mitigation and now is looking to ensure that all communities have access to the resources they need to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.
Find out more at: protecttn.com
