Details

Created on Friday, 03 January 2014 20:10

For Immediate Release

Friday, January 3, 2014

 

Contact

Press Line: (312) 814-3158

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Governor Quinn Announces State

Preparedness Measures Ahead of

Winter Blast

Governor Urges Residents to Stay Inside, Safe and Warm

Ahead of

Forecast Snow and Cold; Check on Neighbors 

            CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn today announced measures being taken by Illinois state agencies to prepare for the extreme cold and additional snowfall that is forecast for the next several days. He also urged residents to follow recommended winter safety procedures and to check on their neighbors during the bitter cold and snowy weather. Today’s announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to keeping all Illinois residents safe and warm this winter.

"As we head into this extreme winter blast, state of Illinois personnel and emergency crews are working around the clock to help people stay warm and safe, while keeping roads open for those who must travel," Governor Quinn said. 

“During this bitter cold and snowy weather, Illinois residents should stay inside as much as possible and limit their exposure to the cold temperatures. Don't forget to dress in layers, check in on friends and family who may need additional assistance, and bring pets indoors. Residents can also take advantage of our warming centers if necessary," the Governor added.

Residents are urged to take advantage of the state’s more than 100 warming centers as temperatures dip to dangerous lows. These include Illinois Department of Human Services offices throughout the state, which are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or the Illinois Tollway Oases, which are open 24 hours a day.  To find a warming center near you, call the IDHS hotline at (800) 843-6154 or visit keepwarm.illinois.gov.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Tollway have their crews working around the clock to keep roads clear and passable. Motorists are urged to drive defensively and safely, travel only if absolutely necessary, slow down, and buckle up. In addition, a new state law prohibits motorists from talking on all but hands-free mobile phones while driving. 

Other roadway safety tips to remember:  

• Don’t crowd snowplows – an operator’s field of vision is restricted. 
• Allow extra time for travel during the winter months.
• Watch out for black ice on roads that appear clear but can be treacherous. Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges and shady areas - all are prone to black ice, which is often invisible.
• Pull over and dial *999 for emergency roadway assistance.

Check travel and road conditions routinely before any trip. You can get road condition information by calling 1-800-452-IDOT (4368), Illinois Tollway information by calling 1-800-TOLL-FYI or online at www.gettingaroundillinois.com and click on the “winter road conditions” icon.

The Illinois Tollway expects to double the number of Zero Weather Road Patrols it provides around the clock to assist drivers stranded in their cars along the 286-mile Tollway system. The Zero Weather Road Patrols provide roadway assistance when temperatures and/or sustained wind chills are below zero.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will continue to monitor the winter weather conditions throughout Illinois and stands ready to activate emergency state resources if necessary. IEMA also advises every household to have a disaster preparedness kit that will help residents stay safe for at least three days. The kits should include a battery-powered NOAA weather radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, non-perishable food, water, a first-aid kit, extra medications and special items needed for babies, disabled or elderly family members and pets.

If you must travel, IEMA and IDOT recommend you equip your vehicle with an emergency supply kit to keep you safe in case you are stranded along the road.  A vehicle preparedness kit should include a cell phone and charger, flashlight, extra batteries, first-aid kit, snack foods and water, blankets, extra warm clothing, gloves and hats, sand or kitty litter, shovel, windshield scraper, booster cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, and a tool kit. Always keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to help prevent the vehicle’s fuel line from freezing.

Before you depart, check weather and road conditions along your route and provide your planned route to a family member or friend. If conditions are dangerous, postpone travel until road conditions improve. IEMA and the National Weather Service have developed a Winter Weather Preparedness Guide that contains many more tips about winter weather safety.  The guide is available at the Ready Illinois website at ready.illinois.gov.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) advises residents to be vigilant regarding two health conditions caused by cold winter weather that can lead to serious injury or death – hypothermia and frostbite. Infants and the elderly are particularly at risk for these conditions.

Symptoms for hypothermia, a drop in body temperature to 95 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, include forgetfulness; drowsiness; slurred speech; change in appearance, such as a puffy face; weak pulse, slow heartbeat; very slow, shallow breathing; and in extreme cases, coma or a death-like appearance. If you notice these symptoms, wrap the person in a warm blanket and seek immediate medical attention. Do not give a hypothermia victim a hot shower or bath.

Frostbite typically affects exposed areas of the face, ears, wrists, hands and feet.  Frostbitten skin is whitish and stiff, and the area will feel numb rather than painful.  If you notice these signs, warm the affected part of the body gradually with blankets, other warm wrappings or warm parts of your body like your armpits, and seek medical attention immediately. Do not rub frostbitten areas. To reduce the chance of frostbite, stay dry and wear several layers of lightweight clothing; cover your head; wear mittens rather than fingered gloves; wear warm leg coverings and heavy socks or two pairs of lightweight socks; and cover your ears and lower face. 

The Illinois Department on Aging is encouraging relatives and friends to make daily visits or calls to senior citizens living alone. Older people are more susceptible to the cold, so seniors should set their thermostats above 65 degrees. Those particularly vulnerable are older people who take certain medications, drink alcohol, lack proper nutrition, or who have conditions such as arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson's disease. 

Tips for senior citizens to best handle cold temperatures:

·         Dress in layers, both indoors and outdoors.

·         Keep active. Make a list of exercises and activities to do indoors when you can’t get out.

·         Eat well and drink 10 glasses of water daily; stock up on non-perishable food supplies, just in case.

·         Keep extra medications in the house. If this is not possible, make arrangements to have someone pick up and deliver your medications.

·         Do not shovel snow or walk in deep snow. Plan now for someone else to shovel the snow. The strain from the cold and hard labor could cause a heart attack; sweating can lead to a chill and even hypothermia.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture advises residents to bring their pets indoors or ensure they have a warm shelter area with unfrozen food and water. Check frequently on any animal that remains outside.

Extreme cold temperatures are dangerous and can be deadly. Since 1995, more than 130 fatalities related to cold temperatures have occurred in Illinois, making it the second-leading cause of weather-related deaths in Illinois in the past two decades.

Details

Created on Friday, 20 December 2013 08:17

For Immediate Release
Thursday, December 19, 2013

 

Contact

Press Line: (312) 814-3158

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Governor Quinn Requests Federal Aid for

 Local Governments Hit by Tornadoes

Federal Reimbursement Would Help Nine Counties

Recover Many

Disaster-Related Costs

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today requested federal aid to help local governments in nine Illinois counties recover from the Nov. 17 deadly tornado outbreak. Counties included in the request include Champaign, Douglas, Grundy, Massac, Tazewell, Vermilion, Washington, Wayne and Woodford.  If the request is approved, local governments could receive reimbursement for 75 percent of eligible disaster-related costs such as overtime, debris removal and repair and replacement of damaged public property.

            “More than two dozen tornadoes tore through the state on Nov. 17, leaving behind widespread heartbreak and damage,” Governor Quinn said. “This federal aid would help ensure these communities fully recover from this disaster while providing vital services to their residents.”

            Today’s request included documentation of tornado-related expenses, such as emergency protective measures, debris removal and repair or replacement of government-owned facilities incurred by the nine counties. The information was collected by representatives from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as they met with local government representatives in affected counties earlier this month. 

            The request also noted other impacts from the tornadoes, including winter weather conditions that will delay debris clean up and rebuilding, affected communities still dealing with costs related to flood events in April 2013 and April 2011 and public property losses that may not be completely covered by insurance.

            Governor Quinn already has secured federal aid to help people and businesses in Champaign, Douglas, Fayette, Grundy, Jasper, LaSalle, Massac, Pope, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, Will and Woodford counties recover from the Nov. 17 tornadoes. To date, nearly 2,000 people in those counties have applied for assistance, with more than $1.3 million in federal grants and more than $1.5 million in low-interest loans already approved. 

            The deadline for people to apply for federal aid is Jan. 27, 2014.      

          

Details

Created on Friday, 13 December 2013 10:06

Governor Quinn Extendes Tax Filing

and Payment Deadlines for Businesses

and Individuals Impacted by Tornadoes

Deadlines Pushed to May 31, 2014

CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn today announced that residents affected by the Nov. 17 tornadoes will now have until May 31, 2014 to file any tax returns due on or after Nov. 15. The announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to help rebuild every community impacted by the deadly storms.

"Communities across Illinois should focus on recovery—not deadlines—following the recent severe storms that have devastated so many people," Governor Quinn said. "We want to give families and businesses as much time as they need to get back on their feet."

The extended deadline will help individuals and local businesses, such as hardware stores, struggling to meet customer needs while cleaning up after the storms. They will now be able to focus on their customers and will have extra time to file and pay the sales taxes they collect. Individuals and businesses who normally file quarterly returns won’t have the pressure to file those returns or payments while trying to recover from the tornadoes. Distributors driving through damaged areas to get motor fuel to gas stations will have extra time to pay the taxes they owe to Illinois.

Taxpayers should file or pay as soon as possible. If filing paper forms by mail, they should write "Tornado – November 2013" in red on the outside of their envelope and on the top of the tax return. To quickly and easily claim disaster relief through MyTax Illinois, log in to your MyTax Illinois account, navigate to the account for which you wish to claim disaster relief, and click "Claim Disaster Relief" under "Account Maintenance" in the left sidebar. Complete the online disaster relief claim request and submit it.

Electronic filers, those who do not mail tax documents and who do not use MyTax Illinois, should notify the department by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Affected taxpayers should include their name, account identification number, tax period that is affected,

and a brief explanation of why they will be late, along with an estimate of when they believe they can file or pay. Additional information can be found by visiting Tax.Illinois.gov.

Last month President Obama approved the Governor’s request for federal assistance to help people and businesses in 15 Illinois counties recover from at least 24 tornadoes that were reported on Nov. 17. The request detailed the severe impact the storms had on communities across the state, including damage to at least 2,441 homes, almost 1,000 of which that are uninhabitable.

The approval came just one day after Governor Quinn submitted his request for Champaign, Douglas, Fayette, Grundy, Jasper, LaSalle, Massac, Pope, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, Will and Woodford counties.

Anyone affected by the Nov. 17 tornadoes and severe storms is encouraged to register for federal assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the assistance program, has a toll-free telephone number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) (for hearing and speech impaired) to apply for assistance. Registration also can be done online at disasterassistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. The deadline to register for federal disaster aid is Jan. 27, 2014.

Details

Created on Tuesday, 10 December 2013 14:43

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Rantoul

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will be opening at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 in Rantoul to serve homeowners, renters and business owners who were affected by the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes.

DRC services include help with applying for disaster assistance and finding out about other disaster programs available from the U.S. Small Business Administration, state and local agencies and voluntary organizations. Residents must apply with FEMA even if they already provided damage information to local officials, other agencies or organizations.

Champaign County

 

Rantoul Recreation Building

100 East Flessner Ave.

Rantoul, IL 61866

Regular hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week, until further notice

 

Individuals can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST seven days a week until further notice.

 

Disaster recovery officials work closely with community leaders to find DRC locations that provide safe and easy access for all survivors. More centers will open as sites are identified and approved.

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

 

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339)