Emergencies

Click on the item you would like to see:

Telephone Numbers
Gas Leaks
Tornadoes
Earthquakes

Telephone Numbers

Portland Police 9-1-1 or (615) 325-3434

Portland Fire Department 9-1-1 or (615) 325-3400

Ambulance 9-1-1

Sumner County Sheriff 9-1-1 or (615) 452-2616 (Gallatin)

Sumner County Fire Department 9-1-1

CSX Railroad Police (800) 232-0144

Portland Gas Leak (615) 325-6776  or (615) 325-3434 after hours

Federal Bureau of Investigation (615) 292-5159 (Nashville) or (901) 747-4300 (Memphis)

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (615) 741-0430 (Nashville)

Tennessee Highway Patrol (615) 741-2060 (Nashville)

CEMC Power Outage (800) 987-CEMC (2362)

Middle Tennessee Poison Center (615) 936-2034 (Nashville)

Return to Top of Page

Gas Leaks

Natural gas is one of the safest fuels available.  It makes sense though, to know what to do in case of a natural gas leak.

If you smell natural gas, take action fast:

Portland Gas System
100 South Russell Street
Portland, TN 37148

Return to Top of Page

Tornadoes

[Information from FEMA]

When a tornado is coming, you have only a short amount of time to make life-or-death decisions. Advance planning and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado.

BEFORE

Conduct tornado drills each tornado season.  Designate an area in the home as a shelter, and practice having everyone in the family go there in response to a tornado threat.

Discuss with family members the difference between a "tornado watch" and a "tornado warning."

Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on tornadoes.

Have disaster supplies on hand:

Develop an emergency communication plan.

In case family members are separated from one another during a tornado (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.

Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.

Tornado Watches and Warnings 

A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. This is time to remind family members where the safest places within your home are located, and listen to the radio or television for further developments.

A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. 

Mobile Homes

Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. When a tornado warning is issued, take shelter in a building with a strong foundation.  If shelter is not available, lie in a ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the unit.

Tornado Danger Signs

Learn these tornado danger signs:

An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.

Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado. 

DURING

If at home:

Go at once to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of the building.  If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.  Get away from the windows.  Go to the center of the room. Stay away from corners because they tend to attract debris.  Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it.  Use arms to protect head and neck.  If in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere. 

If at work or school:

Go to the basement or to an inside hallway at the lowest level.  Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways, or shopping malls.  Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it.  Use arms to protect head and neck. 

If outdoors:

If possible, get inside a building.  If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building. Be aware of the potential for flooding.  Use arms to protect head and neck. 

If in a car:

Never try to out drive a tornado in a car or truck. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and can lift up a car or truck and toss it through the air. 
Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. 
If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle. Be aware of the
potential for flooding. 

AFTER

Help injured or trapped persons.

Give first aid when appropriate. Don't try to move the seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.

Turn on radio or television to get the latest emergency information.

Stay out of damaged buildings. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. 

Use the telephone only for emergency calls. 

Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, or gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. 

Leave the building if you smell gas or chemical fumes. 

Take pictures of the damage--both to the house and its contents--for insurance purposes. 

Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

INSPECTING UTILITIES IN A DAMAGED HOME 

Check for gas leaks--If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by
a professional.

Look for electrical system damage--If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.

Check for sewage and water line damage--If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap.

Return to Top of Page

Earthquakes

It is more likely that Western Tennessee or Eastern Tennessee will experience an earthquake as compared to Middle Tennessee where Portland is.  However, there is a very small chance we could experience some earth movement in Portland.  There are several web sites which will give you more information on how to prepare for an earthquake and what to do should one occur:

http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/earthquakes.shtm

www.ceri.memphis.edu/public/survival.shtml 

This web site lists current and historical earthquakes for the United States and the world:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/neic/

 

Return to Top of Page