Marshall County OEM

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.

08/26/2026

Please be aware we have strong storms approaching from our west. These storms have strong winds associated with them so please be careful.

08/25/2026

Steve Calahan Retires


After 39 years of dedicated services to the citizens of Marshall County, Steve Calahan has officially retired as Director of the Office of Emergency Management.

Steve began his career in 1987 as a volunteer firefighter with Cornersville / South Marshall fire department. He served as Deputy Commander from 1987 – 1997 of the Rescue Squad and then Chief of Cornersville Fire Department from 1991-2002. At that time, he also served in various response groups including industrial response at ICP, Volunteer Fire, Auxiliary Police, heavy and technical rescue, hazardous materials response, telecommunications, and EMS. He has been an instructor for many different state and national organizations along the way and holds certifications across many aspects of emergency services, along with memberships in several associations.

In 1993 he started with EMS full-time. He served as Assistant Director and Paramedic before adding investigator with the medical examiners office from 2000-2013. In 2013 he was the recipient of the Star of Life Award.

In 2014, Steve came back to emergency management to serve as the Director/Chief of the Marshall County Office of Emergency Management/Homeland Security. This includes again being a fire/rescue chief and a Certified Emergency Manager.

Steve worked to improve the Office of Emergency Management and make it a vital part of the county government. His accomplishments and hard work did not go unnoticed as he has grown the fleet of response vehicles, staff and brought the emergency plans to the forefront. His legacy will forever be remembered.

08/22/2026

🛡️ Behind the Badge: Emergency Management Always On Call

When most people finish their workday, they head home, have dinner with their families, and enjoy the evening.

For Emergency Management, the work doesn't stop.
Emergencies don't wait for business hours. They can happen in the middle of the night, on weekends, during holidays, or while we're spending time with our families.

That's why Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Whether it's a hazardous materials incident, a search and rescue operation, a major fire, an aircraft emergency, severe weather, or another unexpected event, we're prepared to respond whenever we're needed.

Being "on call" means being ready to leave the dinner table, answer a late-night phone call, or respond before the sun comes up - because protecting our community isn't limited to a schedule.

It's a responsibility we take seriously and a commitment we're proud to make.

The next time you see an EMA vehicle responding to an incident after hours, know that someone answered the call because our community needed them.

Because behind every emergency is a team working together to protect Rutherford County.

Thank you for allowing Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency to be part of that team.

08/20/2026

I would like to thank everyone who came to my retirement celebration last week and for the wonderful gifts from so many. It meant more to my family and I than words can ever express. It has been a pleasure to serve the citizens of Marshall County through emergency services in one capacity or another for the past 40 years. Many thanks are due to family and staff members who made the event happen. It was a wonderful time to share memories and stories, and I loved every minute of it. I pray that in whatever endeavor undertaken I have served well and made a difference. As I retire, I leave a group of hard working, caring employees and volunteers, dedicated to serving their fellow man in times of need. And I will still be around answering calls when necessary.
Steve Calahan

08/17/2026

08/12/2026

Be sure to stay hydrated the next several days as temperatures climb to near 100. Even though the heat is our biggest worry right now stay weather aware this afternoon as storms will move through our area.

08/01/2026