Washington County to modernize, expand emergency warning system through federal grant funding

Washington County will receive federal grant funding to establish a multimodal rural alerting system as part of a statewide initiative to strengthen, modernize and expand emergency warning systems. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency received more than $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support the state's integrated warning modernization project, according to a TEMA press release. Washington County will not receive the state's full awarded amount. The statewide project aims to ensure emergency information is delivered efficiently and timely by utilizing a number of strategies. Some of them include a statewide broadcast, 11,137 public alert-certified NOAA weather radios and 4,500 alert receivers for schools, hospitals and essential agency buildings. "This funding allows Washington County to deliver faster, more reliable emergency alerts to every corner of our community," said Washington County and Johnson City Emergency Management Agency Director Evan Clyburn. "Strengthening our rural alerting capabilities means residents will receive timely, actionable information when it matters most, and that directly supports our mission of protecting life and ensuring all hazards readiness." The project will include the installation of outdoor warning sirens, expanding and modernizing text, radio, social media and landline alerts. "The system is designed strategically to reach every community throughout the entire county," Clyburn said, adding it is especially important to reach residents in rural areas who may not have cellular service or access to the county's current system — a subscriber-based automated alert that can be sent as a text, email or voicemail. These modern, solar-powered sirens will initiate an audible alert during an emergency, he said, using cellular or satellite service. "As things come online and things are improved and adapted to, we'll be pushing notifications and things out with that," he said. "That'll coincide with trainings and classes that we'll hold in each community as well." Clyburn said the community educational aspect is critical for those rural areas in the county and those who previously may not have had access to the county's current alert system. Not only will residents learn how to use the alert systems, but training classes will also increase situational awareness while in a high-paced environment. The county will also be collaborating with media organizations, regional emergency management agencies and the state when alerts are being issued. "Disasters don't see county lines or state lines," Clyburn said. "All of us working together makes us stronger and more prepared and able to put vital information out to protect our citizens." The project is expected to be completed in two years, Clyburn said, and will require no local dollars.