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Letter-to-the-Editor
“Join October 16 Earthquake Drill: Drop, Cover and Hold On!”
Dear Editor,
The largest earthquake ever to rattle North America occurred in 1811 in New Madrid, Missouri, near southern Illinois. If a similar quake struck the same spot today - according to a 2008 University of Illinois study - the impact would be catastrophic: 3,500 fatalities, 2.6 million people without electricity, $300 billion in direct economic losses. The region’s hospitals, roads, bridges, fuel pipelines and water infrastructure would be in shambles.
Most of southern Illinois sits atop one of two major fault zones - the New Madrid Seismic Zone and Wabash Valley Seismic Zone - but as recently as 2010, the Sandwich Fault Zone in northern Illinois rumbled. A quake can happen anywhere, at any time.
That’s why I invite every Illinois resident, school and business to pause on October 16 at 10:16 a.m., to join the “world’s largest earthquake drill”, during which millions of people will practice the life-saving “Drop, Cover and Hold On” procedure.
The 4th Annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is a grass-roots emergency preparedness drill designed to help residents think about what to do before, during and after an earthquake. The drill focuses on the protective actions we 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.
You can register for the drill at www.shakeout.org/centralus, where you will find expert advice about earthquake preparedness. It only takes a minute to register online for the Great ShakeOut and just seconds to participate in the drill itself, but the lessons learned could make a life-or-death difference.
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In recent years, Illinois has been slammed by natural calamities: floods, tornadoes, drought, blizzards. On the state’s preparedness 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.
Last year, 523,000 Illinoisans participated in the Great ShakeOut, the largest emergency drill in our State’s history. Be part of the 2014 ShakeOut. Register today.
Sincerely,
Jonathon Monken
Director
Illinois Emergency Management Agency
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Champaign County Emergency Management Agency Named NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has named the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador. The initiative recognizes CCEMA as a NOAA partner in improving the country’s readiness, responsiveness and overall resilience against extreme weather and climate events. The goal of the program is to unify efforts of government units, nonprofit organizations, academia and private business to mitigate, prepare for and respond to weather related emergencies.
“This recognition builds on the county’s previous designation as a Storm Ready County to emphasize our commitment to being prepared to respond to severe weather events,” said Champaign County EMA coordinator John Dwyer. “It represents a joint effort with local first responders and the National Weather Service to help residents of the county protect themselves.”
National Weather Service Director Dr. Louis Uccellini has stated the goal of the Weather-Ready Nation endeavor is to assure that communities become better prepared and informed about extreme weather to protect property and, more importantly, lives.
The Champaign County Emergency Management Agency is a unit of the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.
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IEMA Encourages People to Plan for Emergencies during National Preparedness Month in September
‘Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare’ is Theme
SPRINGFIELD – Disasters can strike anytime and anywhere. To encourage people to be better prepared for emergencies, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies throughout Illinois are joining local, state and federal agencies across the U.S. during September to observe National Preparedness Month. The campaign will conclude on September 30 with ‘America’s PrepareAthon,’ a national day of action.
“Spending just a few minutes today on personal preparedness can help you and your family stay safe when disaster strikes,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “We’re encouraging people to find out what hazards could affect their areas and then take actions to increase their preparedness, such as developing an emergency supply kit and a making a plan for reuniting if the family is separated during a disaster.”
The theme for this year’s preparedness campaign is “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare.” Each week during the month, the campaign will focus on a different area of preparedness. The weekly themes include:
Sept. 1-7 – How to reconnect with family after a disaster
Sept. 8-14 – How to plan for specific needs before a disaster
Sept. 15-21 – How to build an emergency kit
Sept. 22-30 – How to practice for an emergency
Throughout September, IEMA will post daily preparedness tips on the Ready Illinois Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ReadyIllinois) and Twitter (@ReadyIllinois). IEMA also maintains the state’s Ready Illinois website (www.Ready.Illinois.gov), a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during and after disasters.
During disasters, IEMA uses the Ready Illinois website, Facebook and Twitter to provide critical information about the incident, including shelter locations, road closures, safety information, photos and more.
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IEMA Encourages Parents to Include Emergency Preparedness in Back-to-School Plans
August is School Preparedness Month in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – School bells soon will be ringing as students across the state begin the new school year. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is joining with local emergency management agencies throughout Illinois during August to encourage families to include emergency preparedness in their back-to-school plans.
“No one likes to think about the possibility of an emergency happening while children are in school or at daycare,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “But as we saw with the May 2013 tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma and other incidents, it can happen. A few minutes of your time now can help you and your child deal with emergencies that may occur during the school day.”
Monken offered several back-to-school planning tips for parents of school-aged children, including:
• Know your child’s school or day care emergency plan.
• Find out where children will be taken in the event of an evacuation during school hours.
• Ensure your emergency contact information is up-to-date at your child’s school.
• Pre-authorize a friend or relative to pick up your children in an emergency and make sure the school knows who that designated person is.
• Have a family communications plan and review the plan periodically with your child. The plan should include contact information for an out-of-area family member or friend, since local telephone networks may not work during a major disaster.
Many college campuses offer email and text messages to alert students of potential dangers, such as severe weather and other threats. Encourage your college student to sign-up for such alerts. Some colleges also provide alert messages for parents so they also are aware of potential dangers at their child’s school.
Additional preparedness information is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.
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