Message from TEMA & Department of Safety
Please see joint statement below from TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan and Commissioner David Purkey of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
"As you know Gov. Haslam issued Executive Order #56 this afternoon waiving hours of service requirements for petroleum transporters to prevent any fuel supply disruptions for Tennesseans from the Colonial pipeline leak in Shelby County, Ala.
In his announcement, Gov. Haslam encouraged Tennesseans to maintain their normal fuel purchasing and driving patterns to prevent any potential impacts on our State’s petroleum supply.
As a further precaution, we are encouraging our state and local partners in emergency management, EMS, fire departments, police departments, and county sheriffs to make sure they have readily available petroleum supplies on-hand and in their vehicles so we are ready to protect the public in their time of need.
This also means cutting back on our consumption of fuel as much as possible, such as avoiding car idling, finding alternate, shorter routes, avoiding long warm-ups of vehicles, keeping tires at proper pressure, and keeping air filters clean.
If your local public safety departments and officials encounter problems with petroleum availability, please contact your county Emergency Management Agency or the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s Watch Point 615-741-0001.
We continue to work all jurisdictional levels in Tennessee, and with our private sector energy partners to monitor Tennessee’s petroleum availability and ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens."
Thank You,
Director Patrick Sheehan
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
Commissioner David W. Purkey
Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security |