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Created: 01 December 2014

IEMA Highlights ‘Spirit of Giving’ in December

Encourages holiday shoppers to give preparedness gifts this year

SPRINGFIELD – If you’re trying to find the perfect holiday presents for everyone on your list, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies are offering gift ideas to help your loved ones stay safe when disaster strikes. 

“While you’re shopping this holiday season, consider gifts that can help friends and family stay safe during all types of emergencies,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken.  “You can give something small, like a flashlight or first aid kit, or surprise someone with a home or vehicle preparedness kit you assembled yourself.”

Monken said preparedness gift ideas include:
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather alert radio with battery backup, a tone-alert feature and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology. Weather alert radios broadcast warnings and post-event information for all types of hazards, including natural, environmental and public safety hazards, such as severe weather, chemical spills and AMBER alerts.
• Flashlight with extra batteries.
• First aid kit with sterile bandages and gauze pads in assorted sizes; antiseptic; latex gloves; tweezers; scissors; soap and moistened towelettes; and a thermometer.
• Home emergency preparedness kit stocked with a three-day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food; battery-powered radio, weather radio and flashlights with extra batteries; first aid kit; shut-off wrench (to turn off household gas and water); manual can opener; and fire extinguisher.
• Vehicle emergency preparedness kit stocked with a flashlight with extra batteries; first aid kit; water and non- perishable snacks; blankets; windshield scraper and brush; booster cables; sack of sand or kitty litter; tool kit; and shovel.  The items can be packed in a backpack or rubber tub.
• Pet emergency preparedness kit stocked with emergency food, bottled water, toys and a leash.

Most preparedness gift items can be found in hardware and department stores. For additional information on emergency preparedness, visit the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.

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Created: 31 October 2014

IEMA, National Weather Service, Local EMAs Encourage
People to Prepare for Winter Weather

November is Winter Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – The winter of 2013-14 is one Illinois residents won’t soon forget. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the frigid temperatures and snowy weather experienced statewide made for the worst winter conditions in nearly 40 years. Chicago recorded the coldest December through March in its history, and temperatures statewide were the fourth coldest on record.

To help Illinois residents be prepared for winter weather this year, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) the NWS  and local emergency management agencies are encouraging people to begin preparing now for extreme cold, snow and ice. The organizations will highlight winter weather preparedness throughout November as part of their annual winter weather preparedness campaign.

“We all hope the winter of 2014-15 isn’t a repeat of last winter,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “But hope isn’t a plan. Winter weather in Illinois may be inevitable, but being prepared will help you handle whatever weather hazards Mother Nature throws our way this year.”

Monken said severe winter weather isn’t just inconvenient, it can be deadly. During the winter of 2013-14, 28 people died from exposure to extreme cold, the most in more than 25 years.

"The extreme, record-setting weather conditions in much of Illinois this past winter illustrated the importance of being prepared for snow, ice and cold temperatures" said Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS office in Lincoln. "It is much easier, and less costly, to prepare your vehicle and home for winter conditions now, rather than waiting until winter is upon us."

IEMA, the NWS and the American Red Cross developed a winter weather preparedness guide that covers winter weather terms and tips for staying safe at home, in the car and at school. The guide is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov or by calling 217-785-9925.

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Created: 14 October 2014

IEMA Urges Illinois Residents to Join October 16 “Great ShakeOut” Earthquake Drill

Millions will “Drop, Cover and Hold on” in biggest emergency exercise in Illinois and U.S. history

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) today urged Illinoisans to participate in the 4th Annual Great ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:16 a.m., on Thursday, October 16. It is expected to be the largest earthquake drill in the history of Illinois and the United States.

“An earthquake can strike anywhere, at any time. The Great ShakeOut is designed to help residents think about what to do before, during and after an earthquake,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “The Great ShakeOut is an effective way for schools, businesses, families and others to practice the life-saving ‘Drop, Cover and Hold On’ procedures.”

Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed October 16 as “Great ShakeOut Day” across Illinois, calling this drill “an effective, grass-roots approach to emergency planning” which has “helped millions of people understand what to do if the ground starts shaking.”

Individuals, schools, businesses and others can register for the Great ShakeOut at www.shakeout.org/centralus, where participants will find expert advice about earthquake preparedness, engaging videos and resource materials. It only takes a minute to register online in the Great ShakeOut and just seconds to participate in the drill itself, but the lessons could make a life-or-death difference. The drill focuses on the protective actions people should take when a quake begins:

• “Drop” to the floor;
• take “Cover” under a sturdy desk or table, and
• “Hold On” until the shaking stops.

Illinois has participated in ShakeOut drills since 2011. Last year, 523,000 Illinoisans took part in the exercise. To date, nearly 530,000 Illinoisans have registered for the upcoming event, along with more than 25 million others in 39 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Italy.

The largest earthquake ever to rattle North America occurred in 1811 in New Madrid, Missouri. If a similar quake struck the same spot today, the impact would be catastrophic and result in many fatalities and injuries, as well as severe damage or destruction to the region’s hospitals, roads, bridges, fuel pipelines and water infrastructure.
 
Most of southern Illinois sits atop one of two major fault zones - the New Madrid Seismic Zone and Wabash Valley Seismic Zone - but earthquakes have been felt throughout the state.

In recent years, Illinois has been slammed by natural calamities: floods, tornadoes, drought and blizzards. On IEMA’s website - www.Ready.Illinois.gov - residents can find tips for emergency planning, such as building a survival kit, creating escape routes and family reunification plans, and caring for pets.

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Created: 09 October 2014

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

IEMA joins nationwide effort to keep people safe online

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, the Internet is almost always at our fingertips. Combined with computers and laptops in homes, schools and workplaces, it’s easy to see how Americans reportedly spend an average of 23 hours per week online. While the Internet provides almost limitless opportunities, it also creates risks that can range from mere inconveniences to serious threats such as identity theft, harassment and child endangerment.

Throughout October, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is joining with local emergency management agencies to promote National Cyber Security Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to increase awareness of online risks and what people can do to prevent problems.

“The Internet is part of our everyday life,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “Mobile devices make it easier than ever to shop, search for information, communicate with friends and family and more. It’s critical that everyone who uses the Internet understands the potential risks and takes steps to protect their personal information.”

Monken said basic tips for staying safe on the Internet include:
• Set strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone.
• Keep your operating system, browser and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
• Maintain an open dialogue with your family, friends and community about Internet safety.
• Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
• Be cautious about what you receive or read online. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For more online safety tips, visit the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov. In addition to cyber safety information, the website is a one-stop location for information about disaster preparedness, what to do during a disaster and steps for recovery after a disaster.