History

TIME LINE 

October 20, 1950:

 

 The State of Tennessee Civil Defense Unit declares to create a local civil defense organization for Hamilton County in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

T. O. Duff, prominent businessman and civic leader, was appointed chairman of the Chattanooga Civil Defense Council. Mr. Duff’s Civil Defense Plan for Hamilton County was to provide protection to the citizens in the event of enemy action, mitigation of potential hazards, institute adequate security measures of potential internal sabotage and alleviate every possible hardship or suffering to the citizens of Hamilton County.

October 1960:

 

 Over 100 Chattanooga volunteers were trained and worked for the Civil Defense Rescue Squad. The volunteer squads consisted of citizens from the areas of Collegedale, Chattanooga Valley, Sale Creek and Signal Mountain. Local chaplains assisted with the rescues as well. The Civil Defense Rescue Squad worked closely with the American Red Cross. This squad provided aid to water rescue and cave-pit-cliff rescue.
 

Picture on the right is a rescue volunteer in 1960.

The uniforms and equipment were funded by the Federal Government, Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga.

Picture below is a group photo of the Civil Defense Rescue Service in 1960.

Information provided by the Chattanooga Times and Free Press
April 1, 1964: Robert J. Bradshaw, manufacturer and owner of Mechanical Industries, and leader in civic activities, was named Director of Civil Defense for Chattanooga and Hamilton County. The City Commission formally appointed him to this position. This position was a part-time job and paid Mr. Bradshaw $200.00 a month. Bradshaw’s main concerns were fallout protection, shelter management, the roles of auxiliary police and rescue squads and medical self-help.
November 7, 1964: Bradshaw announced a rapid development in a program of radiological monitoring  for the department of Civil Defense. This program emphasized the development radiological monitoring capabilities. The program was available for all Civil Defense personnel and volunteers, hospital and doctor offices as well as the public.

        

April 8, 1965: Hamilton County Office of Civil Defense is updated and reorganized.

Mobile Command Post for Hamilton County Civil Defense in October 1965

 
March 30, 1974: Hamilton County Office of Civil Defense is renamed to Hamilton County Civil Defense of Emergency Preparedness. This department studied operating plans, equipment, experience, inventories, and disaster procedures of all agencies, departments and organizations which contributed to saving lives and property.
April 2, 1974:

Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness and Government officials recommend the need  for an Emergency Operations Center for Hamilton County.
March 12, 1975: Robert J. Bradshaw resigns as Director of Emergency Preparedness of Hamilton County and is replaced by John Brooks. This position was made into a full-time position. Mr. Brooks, who joined the Civil Defense office in 1964, had been the deputy director of Civil Defense. Brooks served as a acting director pending a decision on a permanent director. Brooks’ salary was $500.00 a month.

At this time,  the Hamilton County Justice Building announced the Emergency Operations Center will be in  full operation in the Fall of 1975
March 8, 1976: William P. DeBrocke, a 54 year old retired U.S. Army Colonel, was named Director of Emergency Preparedness

June 24, 1976: Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness, local law enforcement officials, gathered with area fire departments, health department, departments of highways and education, tax assessor’s office and the Salvation Army at the Emergency Operations Center in the basement of the Justice Building. A massive evacuation and transfer to fallout shelters of Hamilton County’s 245,000 citizens was simulated. The scenario was a fictional nuclear explosion in Chattanooga. This full-scale exercise was designed to see how quickly authorities could react toward an emergency.
December 8, 1979: City Officials and Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness start to devise an emergency evacuation plan for the 300 square mile area which falls within a 10 mile radius of the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. The Evacuation Plan for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant was to be finish by January 1981. In 1979, an evacuation to the three-mile limit involved about 5,000 people while 40,000 people would be involved in an evacuation to the ten-mile radius.
September 7, 1983: Director ,Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness, William DeBrocke, retires and Donald L. Allen, Sr. is appointed as the new Director of Emergency Preparedness.

March 21, 1984: Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness changes the name to Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management.
October 16, 1985: An amendment to Hazardous Materials Accidents and Incidents Annex (H) is added to the Basic Emergency Operation Plan.
March 19, 1986: Hamilton County Commission adopts a 5-year plan for improvement of Emergency Services.
November 4, 1987: Hamilton County Commission approves Countywide Ambulance Service.
November 18, 1987: Hamilton County Commission approves an operating budget for Ambulance Service.
January 20, 1988: Hamilton County Commission approves the form of an Ambulance Service Agreement.
February 3, 1988: Hamilton County Commission established a fee schedule for the Ambulance Service.
February 17, 1988: Hamilton County Commission approves Ambulance Service Agreement made with the City of Soddy Daisy.
March 3, 1988: Hamilton County Commission approves Ambulance Service Agreement made with the City of Lakesite.
April 6, 1988: Hamilton County Commission approves Ambulance Service Agreement made with the City of Collegedale.
April 20, 1988: Hamilton County Commission approves Mutual Aid Agreement for Ambulance Service—City of Red Bank.
September 21, 1988: Hamilton County Commission approves contract with TVA to provide Emergency Medical Personnel and equipment for radiological training.
April 4, 1989: Hamilton County Commission approves Agreement with Volunteer Fire Department for fire protection for Hamilton County.
July 11, 1990: Renames Emergency Management to Emergency Services.
November 7, 1990: Mutual Aid Agreement for Ambulance Service City of Chattanooga.
December 5, 1990 Ambulance Service agreement with City of Red Bank, the Town of Walden and Signal Mountain.
August 19, 1998:

Construction of the new 9-1-1 Building (3300 Amnicola Highway). Hamilton County Commission establishes 8 Volunteer Fire Departments and 3 Volunteer Rescue Squads and will be overseen by the Director of Emergency Services, Donald L. Allen, Sr. 
December 19, 2001: Mutual Aid Inter-Local Cooperation Agreement with other jurisdiction in Hamilton County for the purpose as assuring the orderly provision of mutual assistance in the event of disasters and other emergencies.
April 4, 2003: Hamilton County Commission creates the Office of Homeland Security, which will be a function of the Department of Emergency Services.
October 18, 2005: Hamilton County Commission recognizes Hamilton County Emergency Services  for receiving the National Award for EMS Service of the Year and EMS Administrator of the Year. The Commission also presented an award to Director of Emergency Services, Donald L. Allen, Sr. for his outstanding service with the Hurricane Katrina evacuees.