Marshall County OEM

10/02/2026

📢Marshall County Office of Emergency Management Selects New Mobile Alerting System📢

Hyper-Reach Chosen to Help Protect Lives and Property

10/2/26

Telephone-based and digital mass notification systems are trusted by thousands of public safety agencies nationwide to warn citizens about local emergencies, hazards, and other threats. For some time now we here in Marshall County have relied on Code Red to provide this service. Today, we here at the Office of Emergency Management are proud to announce the selection of Hyper-Reach to bring this life-saving capability to their community. Hyper-Reach is a next-generation mass emergency notification system built specifically for public safety.
The new emergency alert system will deliver rapid notifications during hazardous and urgent situations through a combination of phone calls, text and email messages, and TTY/TDD service for the hearing impaired. It can reach thousands of targeted households in seconds and simultaneously extend alerts via social media, Alexa-enabled smart speakers, browser notifications, and FEMA’s Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system for most mobile phones manufactured since 2011.
Landline phones are automatically enrolled for Community alerts, but Weather alerts to landline phones and Community and Weather alerts to VoIP phones, mobile phones, and email addresses are only included when people enroll.

Residents and people who work in Marshall County, TN are encouraged to enroll now (using a city/county address) either by:
• Calling or texting “Alert” to 931-288-4707 or
• Going to the website: http://hyper-reach.com/tnmarshallsignup.html

Residents can also download the Hyper-Reach Anywhere app on their smartphones. Hyper-Reach Anywhere is a free smartphone app that allows individual residents to manage and monitor the alerts they receive, both for their home, office, and other addresses they care about, such as those of elderly relatives or friends.

09/29/2026

🔥 PLEASE HOLD OFF ON BURNING, MARSHALL COUNTY 🔥

We're are currently in a D1 Moderate Drought with some of the eastern portions of our county nearing the D2 Severe Drought level. Our fire personnel across the county have been extremely busy for several days now. Grass, leaves, brush, and timber are bone dry, and it only takes one stray ember from a burn pile, fire pit, or even a trailer chain dragging on the road to start a fire that spreads faster than anyone can stop it.

Please:
❌ Don't burn brush, leaves, or trash
❌ Skip the bonfires and backyard fire pits for now
❌ Don't toss ci******es out of vehicles
✅ Make sure grills are fully out and away from dry grass
✅ Check chains and equipment so they aren't throwing sparks

Our local fire departments, many of them volunteers, are ready to help, but let's not give them a fire they didn't need to fight. That brush pile will still be there after we get a good soaking rain.

Before you burn anything, check with your local fire department or the Tennessee Division of Forestry (burnsafetn.org) to see if restrictions are in place. And remember, starting October 15, you'll need a free burn permit for most outdoor burning in Tennessee.

Stay safe and please share so your neighbors see this! 💧🙏

09/28/2026

09/26/2026

09/18/2026

The heat advisory continues through Sunday so please limit your activities outdoors this weekend. Stay hydrated and limit your exposure to the heat. There is also a marginal risk of storms on Saturday afternoon and evening.

09/14/2026

It is going to be dangerously hot with a warning out for Tuesday. Please hydrate and stay inside if at all possible.

09/09/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 8, 2026

The State of Tennessee Requests Federal Assistance for August Storm Impacts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The State of Tennessee has requested federal disaster assistance through FEMA’s Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs for Shelby County following the severe storms in August.

The request follows continued coordination with local, state, federal, and nonprofit partners to assess damages, document impacts, and identify unmet needs following the storms.

Individual Assistance, if approved, may provide direct support to eligible survivors and households for disaster-related needs. Public Assistance, if approved, may help eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations recover costs related to emergency protective measures, debris removal, and repairs to eligible public infrastructure.

A request for federal assistance does not guarantee approval. If the request is approved, assistance is not automatic and eligibility requirements will still apply. FEMA will review the state’s request and determine whether the event meets the federal requirements for one or both programs.

“We know many Tennesseans are still dealing with the impacts of these storms, and we want to be clear about where we are in the process,” said TEMA Commissioner Patrick C. Sheehan. “Tennessee has requested federal assistance, but that request must still be reviewed by FEMA andapproved by President Trump. In the meantime, we encourage residents to continue working with local officials and community organizations for available support.”

Residents should continue to document storm-related damages with photographs and videos, save receipts for disaster-related expenses, and report damage through local emergency management or any local damage assessment process made available in their community.

While the federal request is under review, Tennesseans who need help with food, basic needs, cleanup, or other recovery resources are encouraged to connect with the following organizations and services:

Community Compass
Community Compass is Tennessee’s statewide navigation tool that helps residents identify available resources for food, housing, transportation, health care, financial assistance, and other needs. Residents can search for local resources at https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/community-compass.html.

United Way 2-1-1
Residents may dial 2-1-1 to be connected with local nonprofit services and community resources. If 2-1-1 does not connect through a mobile provider, residents may contact their local United Way or visit https://www.211.org/.

American Red Cross of Tennessee
The American Red Cross of Tennessee may be able to help individuals and families impacted by disasters connect with recovery resources. Residents can visit https://www.redcross.org/local/tennessee.html or call 1-800-RED-CROSS for more information.

Local Emergency Management and Community Organizations
Residents should continue following information from their county emergency management agency, local government, and trusted community organizations for updates on available assistance, shelters, donation sites, volunteer opportunities, and recovery resources.

TEMA will provide updates as the federal review process continues.

The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross serves all 95 counties in Tennessee. We also serve Crittenden County in Arkansas and Desoto and Tunica counties in Mississippi.

09/01/2026

Gov. Bill Lee, TEMA Recognize Preparedness Month with "Be a Preparedness Hero" Campaign
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2026

Gov. Bill Lee, TEMA Recognize Preparedness Month with “Be a Preparedness Hero” Campaign
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Emergency Management Authority are recognizing September 2026 as Preparedness Month and encouraging Tennesseans to take small, practical steps now to be better prepared for emergencies before they happen.

This year’s statewide campaign, “Be a Preparedness Hero,” focuses on helping families, businesses, and communities build confidence through simple preparedness actions. From severe weather and flooding to tornadoes, extended power outages, and other hazards, emergencies can happen anywhere in Tennessee. Preparedness Month is an opportunity to make readiness more accessible by working through trusted community partners who serve Tennesseans every day.

“Preparedness works best when it is built into the places people already know and trust,” said TEMA Commissioner Patrick C. Sheehan. “Through partnerships with libraries, local emergency managers, electric cooperatives, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations, we can help families take small steps today that make them safer and more resilient tomorrow.”

A major focus of this year’s campaign is TEMA’s partnership with Tennessee’s public libraries. Many libraries across the state are participating in preparedness training and becoming ReadyTN Connect partners, helping them prepare their own organizations for emergencies while also serving as trusted community hubs for preparedness information.

Through ReadyTN Connect, libraries will be equipped to share verified preparedness, response, and recovery information with the communities they serve during both blue skies and gray skies. Participating libraries may also host story times, workshops, preparedness displays, family activities, and other local events that help Tennesseans connect with planning guides, emergency kit checklists, local resources, and their county emergency management agencies.

TEMA is also partnering with the Tennessee Electric Co-operative Association and member cooperatives statewide during one of the campaign’s themed weeks to encourage Tennesseans to be Power Ready. This effort will focus on helping households prepare for power outages by sharing information about outage reporting, generator and carbon monoxide safety, downed power line hazards, medically dependent needs, and steps families can take before the lights go out.

Throughout September, Tennesseans are encouraged to take one small preparedness action each week, such as making a family emergency plan, identifying a safe place, building or updating an emergency kit, preparing for power outages, signing up for local alerts, or checking on neighbors who may need additional support.

Launch of ReadyTN Connect

Preparedness Month also marks the statewide launch of ReadyTN Connect, a long-term community engagement program designed to strengthen how preparedness, response, and recovery information reaches Tennesseans. The program will connect public libraries, nonprofits, faith-based groups, youth organizations, cooperatives, community centers, and other trusted partners with tools and resources they can use to support preparedness before disasters and share verified information during emergencies.

TEMA encourages all Tennesseans to follow along throughout September, participate in local activities, and take meaningful steps to prepare themselves, their families, and their communities.

Preparedness resources, planning guides, and campaign updates are available at tn.gov/tema/prepare.

About the Tennessee Emergency Management Authority: TEMA’s mission is to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery from man-made, natural and technological hazards in a professional and efficient manner in concert with our stakeholders. Follow TEMA on social media and on our website at www.tn.gov/tema.

PDF Press Release: Gov. Bill Lee, TEMA Recognize Preparedness Month with “Be a Preparedness Hero” Campaign

09/01/2026

Meet our sweet Cheryl Dyer. She does anything and everything to help OEM and we lover her for it!!

08/27/2026

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GETS NEW DIRECTOR

With the retirement of the former Director of Marshall County Office of Emergency Management Kevin Calahan has been named the new Director of Emergency Management beginning August 24, 2026.
Kevin started his career 12 years ago when he joined the Marshall County Office of Emergency Management as a volunteer in 2013. He was then hired part time in 2015 in the position of Operations Chief and then became Deputy Director in 2016.
Kevin holds certifications as a Hazmat Specialist, TARS Rescue and Extrication Instructor and Emergency Medical Responder. He has certifications in the field of Search and Rescue such as navigation, tracking, search management, as well as ropes, trench rescue, and confined space. Kevin is a trained weather spotter and closely monitors weather conditions.
He also holds a degree in Theology/Biblical studies and has been preaching at Lone Oak Church of Christ for the past 10 years.
We congratulate Kevin on his promotion to Director and wish him all the best in his new position.