Tennessee has recently witnessed an impressive assembly of emergency response teams participating in a critical preparedness event known as Vigilant Guard 2025. This drill, simulating a 7.5 magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone, brought together the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee Military Department, and over 30 other agencies in a bid to strengthen their response mechanisms.
During the drill, which spanned a week in May, these agencies had the opportunity to fully activate and test their response plans. Major General Warner Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, emphasized the importance of the exercise, as per the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, saying, "The more we work alongside one another, the more we fine-tune our policies and procedures. Building these relationships are vital to our effectiveness, and continuing to practice what we do will make all of us much better when it's time to respond to the real thing."
The event included various training scenarios such as search and rescue operations, critical site security, and infrastructure failure response, reflecting the broad spectrum of disasters that could arise following a major seismic event. TEMA Exercise Director Matt Bush acknowledged the magnitude of the endeavor, stating, "It was one of the largest exercises in Tennessee history," noting their extensive preparation over the past 18 months.
