IEMA Highlights Emergency Preparedness for People with Access and Functional Needs in May
Ready Illinois website offers preparedness tips for people, caregivers
SPRINGFIELD – Most emergencies occur with little or no warning, such as the flooding currently impacting more than two dozen Illinois communities. While most disasters can’t be prevented, the stress of such situations can be reduced significantly through personal preparedness. This is particularly important for households with members who have disabilities, functional needs or may need assistance during an emergency.
Throughout May, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies will highlight the importance of disaster preparedness for people with functional and access needs.
“A flood, tornado or ice storm can cause power outages, force people to evacuate their homes or create other dangerous situations for people in the affected communities,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “That’s why we encourage everyone to be prepared, especially those who may have medical, functional or access needs. We have resources that can help people and their caregivers be better prepared for emergencies.”
Joseph said the Ready Illinois website offers a guidebook with preparedness tips for people with visual, cognitive or mobility impairments; people who are deaf or hard of hearing; those who utilize service animals or life support systems; and senior citizens. The guide, Emergency Preparedness Tips for Those with Functional Needs, is available at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.
For each functional need, the guidebook provides a list of supplemental items for a disaster kit, tips on developing an emergency plan, suggestions on how to be better informed about community emergency planning and a checklist of preparedness activities.
The Ready Illinois website also offers more than two dozen preparedness videos in American Sign Language on such topics as what to do before, during and after tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flooding, how to build an emergency supply kit, and what to do if you’re instructed to evacuate. The videos were developed in collaboration with the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission.
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ILLINOIS STATE POLICE DISTRICT 10 BRINGS AWARENESS TO ILLINOIS INAUGURAL DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS WEEK
Stay Focused, Don't Text and Drive, Your Life Depends On It
Pesotum, IL. Illinois State Police District 10 Commander Captain Louis Kink announces they will be participating in the inaugural Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week. Troopers will be giving special attention to distracted driving laws the week of April 24-28. A press conference Monday, April 24, at the Illinois State Capitol will kick off the campaign.
Illinois Distracted Driving laws have been in effect for seven years. Motorists need to be aware of the laws and obey them. This is not just to avoid getting a ticket, but to avoid causing an injury or fatal crash. The use of wireless telephones for all drivers, regardless of age, while operating a vehicle in a school zone or construction zone is prohibited. Also, the use of electronic communication devices or any other electronic device, to text, e-mail, compose, read or send electronic messages or access internet sites while driving a motor vehicle is prohibited. Violating Illinois texting law can be costly. A first violation for this offense is $120 and can increase with multiple violations or when a violation occurs in a work or school zone.
Distracted Driving is a nationwide epidemic. Driver inattention is a factor in more than one million crashes annually, resulting in serious injuries, deaths, and an economic impact that the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says reaches nearly $40 billion per year. Americans spend about one hour and 15 minutes in their vehicles every day. Unfortunately, people often treat this as a time to multitask and take care of other daily activities. If you're driving your vehicle, you are already multitasking. At a minimum you are operating a vehicle at roadway speed, and you are calculating the distances and the navigation of all other drivers and obstacles around you.
Distracted driving statistics from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety paint a grim picture: In 2015, an estimated 3,477 people were killed. An additional 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. It is clear that distracted driving continues to be a deadly driving hazard.
Texting and driving is a "Choice" that requires motorists to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the task of driving. The ISP asks all motorists to "Drop it and Drive" and focus on the task at hand.
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IEMA Highlights Role of Volunteers in Disasters
Volunteers assist with preparedness, response and recovery
SPRINGFIELD – Volunteers can provide critical assistance in disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts in Illinois. Throughout April, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies will highlight ways Illinois residents can help their communities be more resilient.
“Before disaster strikes, volunteers can promote personal preparedness so that people in their communities can stay safe during emergencies,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. When a disaster strikes, voluntary organizations help people in their community, region or across the country. Volunteers even play a vital role in ensuring the long-term recovery of a community affected by a disaster.”
Joseph said more than 50 communities have established Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) that have been used to help make their communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to and recover from emergencies.
Nearly 100 local CERT members recently participated in a day of training during the seventh annual Prairie State CERT Challenge at Joliet Junior College in Joliet. The event was sponsored by IEMA and hosted by Will County Emergency Management Agency.
The day’s activities involved training focused on disaster recovery activities, such as damage assessments, donations management, spontaneous volunteers and Multi-Agency Resource Centers. These training topics reflect activities CERT members have assisted with following several recent disasters in Illinois and are likely to assist with in future emergencies.
Disaster volunteer opportunities vary from community to community. People interested in learning more about how to volunteer to help before, during or after a disaster can contact local voluntary organizations or their local emergency management agency for information about opportunities in their area.
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IEMA Urges People to Prepare for Severe Weather
Dangerous storms predicted through Tuesday evening for much of Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – A threat of severe weather with a potential for tornadoes throughout much of Illinois today and tonight is a reminder that it’s important to always be ready for dangerous weather. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) encourages people to stay aware of local forecasts and be prepared to act quickly if storm warnings are issued.
“It’s critical for people to have multiple ways to receive notifications and updated information about severe weather warnings, such as through a weather alert radio,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “It’s possible some of the severe storms this evening will occur after dark when most people are inside and asleep. A weather alert radio can wake you up and give you time to seek shelter when dangerous weather or other hazards are approaching your area.”
Joseph said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather alert radios can be programmed to issue a tone alarm and provide information about a warning that has been issued for your county. Other ways to receive severe weather warnings include Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), weather alert apps, TV and radio broadcasts, the Internet and outdoor warning sirens.
Seek shelter immediately if a tornado warning is issued for your area. The best shelter is in a basement or cellar. If an underground shelter is not available, find an interior room or hallway on the lowest level, such as a closet, small interior hallways and bathrooms without windows.
“Severe weather is already imminent across Illinois on the last day of February, which underscores how important it is to be prepared for thunderstorms that produce wind damage, large hail, tornadoes and flash flooding any time of the year," said Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Lincoln. "The key points of severe weather safety include avoiding flooded roads in vehicles, seeking shelter in a secure building - preferably in the basement - when a tornado is nearby, and staying away from windows, doors and upper levels of buildings during severe thunderstorms.
IEMA and local emergency management agencies will be promoting Severe Weather Preparedness Month throughout March. In addition, IEMA and the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA) are sponsoring an online contest that offers Illinois residents a chance to win a portable weather alert radio. The “Weather Alert Radios Save Lives” contest will begin on March 1 and continue through March 31.
The weather alert radio contest will be available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov. A total of 100 portable weather alert radios will be awarded to randomly selected participants who register after reading information about the radios and successfully completing a five-question quiz. Winners will be announced in April. The radios were purchased by IESMA as part of an effort to increase the use of the devices in communities throughout Illinois.
IEMA and the NWS developed a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide, which provides information about tornadoes, severe storms, lightning and flooding along with recommended actions to take before, during and after each of these weather events. It is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.
Preparedness tips and information are also available through the Ready Illinois Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/ReadyIllinois) and Twitter Page (twitter.com/ReadyIllinois).
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Interested in our Search and Rescue Team?
Discover the thrill of saving someone’s life. Well, it may not always be that dramatic but you can certainly make a difference. If you love the outdoors and want to make a difference in your community, join the Champaign County Search and Rescue (SAR) team. An informational meeting will be held Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency, 1905 E. Main St., Urbana. You must be at least 18 years old and able to pass a background check, but do not need to live in Champaign County. Searchers are called to find missing persons, often elderly people with dementia or children. Trained searchers are two to four times more likely to locate a missing subject than someone without training. The team has monthly instructional meetings discussing everything from how to use maps and compasses to the behavior different types of subjects display when they are lost. There are regular outdoor exercises to hone search skills and to practice the management of a scene. Discover the exciting world of Search and Rescue and how you can fit in. If you have questions call 217-384-3826 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
