October City Voice

It's time for the Annual Pumpkin Palooza and Trick-or-Treating on State Street! On Saturday October 29, 9am to 12 noon, kids of all ages can come to the Farmers' Market at the Downtown Center, 810 State Street for a spooktacular event! Hosted by Bristol Tennessee Parks & Recreation Department and Believe in Bristol, there will be fun and games galore — children can decorate a pumpkin with a variety of fun craft materials. There will be treat bags for kids to take home (while supplies last), along with the pumpkin they decorated. The fun continues as downtown merchants are open for trick-or-treating at various shops along State Street from 10am until 12 noon, or until the candy runs out! It's fun for the whole family!

Bristol Tennessee Fire Department Announces Appointments

Bristol Tennessee Fire Chief, Bob Barnes, recently announced promotional appointments to the positions of Fire Battalion Chief and Fire Lieutenant. A multi-component, highly competitive process measures qualifying candidates for each position in myriad competencies such as experience, knowledge, training, leadership, and education; the candidates are then rank ordered to establish promotional registers based upon performance oriented results.

Twenty-year fire department veteran, Alan Howard, earned appointment to the position of Battalion Chief and will be assigned as a shift commander with operational, management, and administrative duties. Howard began his career with the fire department in 1996 as a firefighter and earned promotion to Fire Sergeant in 2005. Two years later, Howard earned appointment to the rank of Fire Lieutenant and has performed in that capacity for the past nine years. Battalion Chief Howard resides in Bristol with his wife, Cindy, and their two children, Austin and Emily.

Nathan Johnson, who has served Bristol since 2008, has earned appointment to the rank of Fire Lieutenant. Johnson performed as a firefighter and emergency medical technician until becoming a nationally registered paramedic in 2010. For the past six years, Johnson has served the Bristol community as both firefighter and paramedic. In his new role, Lieutenant Johnson will have supervisory and training responsibilities while in charge of a fire station crew and he will be tasked also with officer level operational and supervisory duties at emergency scenes. Lieutenant Johnson and his wife, Shawna, reside in Meadowview, Virginia with their one-month old daughter, Brynnley.

Chief Barnes stated the appointments for both Howard and Johnson are effective as of October 3^rd, and the department is confident that both men will provide exemplary service to the citizens of Bristol as they fulfill the expanded responsibilities commensurate with their new roles.

Do You Know Your Flood Risk?

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. And you don't need to live on the coast to be at risk. Flash floods, inland flooding, and seasonal storms affect every region of the country, severely damaging homes and businesses. Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. The following are important steps to protect yourself and your property in the event of a flood -

Check before you buy. Before you commit yourself to buying property, ask your real estate agent or local planning office if the property is in a floodplain.

Insure your property for flood hazard. Homeowners insurance usually does not include coverage for a flood. One of the best protection measures for a building with a flood problem is a flood insurance policy under the National Flood Insurance Program, which can be purchased through any licensed property insurance agent.

Know Your Flood Hazard. It is important to know if your property is subject to flooding. You can check on Special Flood Hazard Areas in your neighborhood by looking at the Flood Insurance Rate Maps at FEMA’s Map Service Center: http://msc.fema.gov

Build responsibly. The City of Bristol regulates construction and development in the floodplain to ensure that buildings will be protected from flood damage. Always check with the City Codes Enforcement Division on permit requirements before you build. Codes Enforcement may be reached by calling 423-989-5748.

Protect yourself and family. Turn around, don’t drown! Do not walk or drive through flowing water of flooded areas. Stay away from power lines and electrical wires.

Protect your property from flood hazards. There are many ways to prepare and protect your home from flood hazards - have your electricity turned off by the power company, complete a home inventory to expedite the processing of insurance claims after a flood, be alert for gas leaks.

Protect the environment. Don’t pour pollutants down storm drains and keep debris and trash out of streams and ditches.

Resources
Need help determining your flood risk? The Community Development Department is available to assist! Please call - 423-989-5514.
www.bristoltn.org/231/flood-information
www.floodsmart.gov
https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program

November 10: Veteran's Day Parade
November 21: Downtown Bristol's Christmas Open House
November 25-27: Christmas Craft Show
November 26: Small Business Saturday
November 28: Christmas Tree Lighting
December 1: Christmas Parade