Claiborne County Office of Emergency Management Homeland Security

09/02/2026

🚨⛈️ SEVERE WEATHER: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE — KNOW WHEN TO ACT! ⛈️🚨

A tornado 🌪️ is NOT required for a thunderstorm to be dangerous.

Severe thunderstorms can produce:
💨 Damaging winds
🧊 Large hail
⚡ Dangerous lightning
🌊 Flash flooding

🟡 WATCH = BE PREPARED
Severe weather is possible. Stay alert, monitor weather updates, and be ready to take action.

🔴 WARNING = TAKE ACTION
Severe weather is occurring or imminent. Seek shelter immediately and follow instructions from local officials.

🛡️ TAKE ACTION BEFORE THE STORM:
📱 Have more than one way to receive weather warnings.
🏠 Know where you will take shelter before severe weather arrives.
📻 Stay informed through trusted weather sources and local emergency officials.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Make sure your family, coworkers, and neighbors know the plan.

⏰ Don’t wait until severe weather is at your doorstep.

📢 GET FORECAST READY.
Know the difference. Make a plan. Stay informed. Take action.

🦸 Be a Preparedness Hero!

🦸
🏠
🌦️
⛈️
🚨

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️ BE A PREPAREDNESS HERO! 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️
📅 National Preparedness Month 2026 | September

Preparedness starts with simple actions taken before an emergency happens. 🏠❤️

In Tennessee, we can all do our part by helping families, businesses, rural communities, and neighborhoods understand what they can do now to prepare, stay informed, and support one another. 🤝🌟

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA)’s 2026 National Preparedness Month campaign, “Be a Preparedness Hero,” focuses on children and families and is designed to make preparedness practical, approachable, and part of everyday life. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🧰

Throughout September, TEMA and its partners will encourage Tennesseans to:

🌦️ Prepare for severe weather
📲 Connect with local preparedness resources
🔋 Prepare for extended power outages
🤝 Strengthen families and communities
📢 Stay informed with trusted information

The campaign is built around one simple idea:

⭐ ANYONE CAN BE A PREPAREDNESS HERO! ⭐
💪 Start with one small step.

🌪️ Why This Matters in Tennessee

Tennessee experiences a wide range of hazards, including:

⛈️ Severe thunderstorms
🌪️ Tornadoes
🌊 Flooding
🌡️ Extreme temperatures
🔌 Extended power outages

Preparedness isn’t only about what happens during an emergency. It’s about understanding your risks, making a plan, gathering the supplies you may need, and knowing where to turn for trusted information and local support. 📝🎒📻

🤝 Prepared Communities Are Stronger Communities

Preparedness becomes even stronger when communities are connected! ❤️

Local emergency management agencies, libraries, schools, children’s museums, science centers, first responders, the National Weather Service, utilities, health partners, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations all play an important role in helping Tennessee prepare, respond, and recover. 🏫🚒📚🏥🏢

📅 SEPTEMBER WEEKLY THEMES
🌦️ WEEK 1 — FORECAST: READY

📆 September 1–7

Prepare for severe weather and understand your weather risk. ⛈️🌪️
Know what weather hazards could affect your area and take steps now to stay safe.

🔗 WEEK 2 — READYTN CONNECT

📆 September 8–14

Connect businesses, rural communities, families, and local partners with preparedness resources. 🤝🏡🏢

🔋 WEEK 3 — POWER READY

📆 September 15–21

Prepare families and households for extended power outages. 🔦🔋📻
Make sure your household has the supplies, plans, and information needed if the power goes out for an extended period.

❤️ WEEK 4 — READY TOGETHER

📆 September 22–30

Bring families, communities, and local resources together to build stronger preparedness habits. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🤝🏘️

Preparedness is stronger when we work together! 💪❤️ Connect with your neighbors, local organizations, emergency management agencies, and community resources to create a safer, more prepared Tennessee. 🏘️📚🚒📢

🦸 This September, be the hero your family and community need!

❤️ Take one small step.
📋 Make a plan.
🎒 Gather your supplies.
📱 Stay informed.
🤝 Connect with your community.
🏘️ Get READY TOGETHER!

⭐ Anyone can be a Preparedness Hero. Start today! ⭐

08/25/2026

Remembering Dolly Parton

Today, our community joins countless others across Tennessee and around the world in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, who passed away peacefully at the age of 80.

Dolly was more than a legendary musician and entertainer. She was a proud Tennessean, a humanitarian, and a source of kindness and hope for generations. Her generosity touched communities during some of their most difficult times, and her commitment to helping others leaves a lasting legacy.

From the Great Smoky Mountains to communities around the world, Dolly’s light reached far beyond music.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Parton family, her loved ones, and all those who are grieving this tremendous loss.

Thank you, Dolly, for a lifetime of service, compassion, and making Tennessee proud.

Rest in peace, Dolly. 💕🕊️

08/21/2026

544 AM EDT Friday August 21 2026
..STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN CLAIBORNE...
NORTHWESTERN HAWKINS...HANCOCK...NORTHEASTERN GRAINGER AND
SOUTHWESTERN LEE COUNTIES THROUGH 630 AM EDT...

At 543 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Harrogate to 6 miles north of Bean Station.
Movement was east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Sneedville, Jonesville, Bean Station, Harrogate, Howard Quarter,
Cumberland Gap, Evanston, Rose Hill, Treadway, and Ewing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

08/21/2026

511 AM EDT Friday August 21 2026
..A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL CLAIBORNE...SOUTHWESTERN
HANCOCK...GRAINGER AND NORTHEASTERN UNION COUNTIES THROUGH 600 AM
EDT...

At 511 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northwest of Rutledge, moving northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Rutledge, New Tazewell, Bean Station, Tazewell, Harrogate,
Springdale, Lone Mountain, Howard Quarter, Thorn Hill, and Powell
River Preserve.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

08/19/2026

I want to thank our commissioners for placing their trust in me once again. Being reappointed as Director for another four years by a unanimous vote is an honor I deeply appreciate. I remain committed to serving our county with integrity, preparedness, and a steady focus on keeping our community safe.

I look forward to continuing our work together and building on the progress we’ve made. Thank you for your confidence and support.

08/19/2026

Potential Weather Forecast for Thursday August 20th 2026

There is a conditional severe weather threat Thursday afternoon [2 to 8pm].

The threat of severe weather is low, but if storms do occur, a few strong to severe storms could produce damaging wind gusts.

Heavy rain and frequent lightning will also be a concern if storms develop.

What Has Changed:
Initial heads up email concerning a condition severe weather threat for August 20th, 2026



Confidence:
Low to Medium confidence on thunderstorm development Thursday afternoon/evening.

Medium to High confidence on thunderstorm timing and potential impacts if thunderstorms develop.

08/17/2026

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELLED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH 590 FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN TENNESSEE THIS CANCELS 12 COUNTIES

IN EAST TENNESSEE

ANDERSON CAMPBELL CLAIBORNE
GRAINGER HAMBLEN HANCOCK
HAWKINS JEFFERSON KNOX
MORGAN SCOTT UNION

IN VIRGINIA THIS CANCELS 5 COUNTIES

IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

CITY OF NORTON LEE RUSSELL
SCOTT WISE

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALPHA, APPALACHIA, ARTHUR,
BEAN STATION, BEARDEN, BIG SOUTH FORK NATIONAL, BIG STONE GAP,
CARYVILLE, CASTLEWOOD, CHESTNUT HILL, CLAIRFIELD, CLINTON,
COEBURN, DANDRIDGE, DYE, ELGIN, ELK VALLEY, EVANSTON, FINCASTLE,
HANSONVILLE, HARROGATE-SHAWANEE, HIGH POINT, HILTONS, HONAKER,
HOWARD QUARTER, HUNTSVILLE, JEFFERSON CITY, JELLICO, KNOXVILLE,
KYLES FORD, LA FOLLETTE, LAKE FOREST, LEBANON, LONE MOUNTAIN,
LUTTRELL, MAYNARDVILLE, MOORESBURG, MORRISTOWN, NORMA,
NORRIS LAKE, NORTON, OAK RIDGE, ONEIDA, PARDEE, PAULETTE, PETROS,
PINE ORCHARD, ROSE HILL, ROSE HILL, ROSEDALE, ROYAL BLUE,
RUSSELLVILLE, SANDLICK, SHARPS CHAPEL, SLICK ROCK,
SMOKEY JUNCTION, SNEEDVILLE, SPRINGDALE, STRAWBERRY PLAINS,
TREADWAY, WHITE OAK, WHITE PINE, AND WISE.