Tips offered for travel safety, holiday decorating, preparedness gifts
SPRINGFIELD – With the holiday season in full swing, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is offering tips to help people stay safe now and into the new year. From decorating the tree to traveling to grandma’s house with a sleigh full of new toys, be sure to take simple steps to keep your family safe.
Holiday Decorating
Whether decorating for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Year’s Eve, candles and strings of colored lights create a festive atmosphere but it’s important to be careful when using them. Candles should never be left unattended, and placed far away from flammable materials. Candles should also be placed on stable furniture in fire-safe holders that will catch dripping wax. Holiday lights and electrical decorations should bear the name of an independent testing lab to prove they were safety tested.
Winter Heating
While the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, be sure that your fireplace is ready for the winter heating season. Chimneys, fireplaces and wood and coal stoves should be regularly inspected and cleaned when necessary. Additionally, furnaces should be checked every year by professionals to ensure mechanical parts are functioning properly and that nothing is blocking the flue. Malfunctioning furnaces increase both the fire and carbon monoxide risks.
Under Illinois law, homes should be equipped with working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors within 15 feet of each sleeping area. The detectors should be tested monthly to ensure they’re functioning and the batteries are still good. Never use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or attached garage because of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Preparedness Gift Ideas
While you are out shopping this holiday season, consider gifts that can help friends and family stay safe during all types of hazards and emergencies.
“Disasters can happen at any time and often with little to no warning,” said Acting IEMA Director William Robertson. “Safety gifts are not only practical but they provide the gift-giver peace of mind knowing your loved one will be safe during an emergency.”
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. In addition to alerting for weather warnings, these radios also broadcast warnings and post-event information for all types of hazards, including natural, environmental and public safety hazards, such as earthquakes, 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 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.
Holiday Travel
When traveling over the river and through the woods, whether by car, train or plane, be sure to utilize smart travel tips.
If traveling by car, remember to pack an emergency supply kit with essentials for all your passengers. Fill out an emergency communications plan and let your in case of emergency (ICE) contact know your plan. Also, before you hit the road, check local road conditions and avoid traveling during winter storms.
If traveling by plane for the holidays, be sure to review the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) security screening tips. When packing for your flights, consider a small emergency kit that includes a flashlight and spare USB power bank.
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The official start of winter is still nearly two months away but much of the state has already experienced its first frost and, in some areas, its first snowfall. This sets the stage for a potentially long winter so the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is recommending people start taking steps to ensure they’re prepared to stay safe and warm throughout the winter months.
Driving on snow or ice-covered roads can be extremely hazardous. Before starting a trip when the weather is bad, be sure to check road conditions on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Winter Road Conditions Map at www.gettingaroundillinois.com.
Drivers should be sure to stock their vehicles with an emergency supply kit, in the event they are stranded on the roadside and need to wait for assistance. The emergency supply kit should include:
Blankets or sleeping bags
A flashlight with extra batteries
A First aid kit
Non-perishable snack food
Water
Sand or cat litter
A shovel
Booster cables
A cell phone charger
Winter storms also can cause power outages that can last several hours or several days. It’s important to have an emergency supply kit at home that includes a battery-powered National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio, water and non-perishable food, flashlights, extra batteries, a first aid kit and supplies for pets and family members with special medical needs. More tips for staying safe at home and on the road are available in a guide developed by IEMA and the National Weather Service, which is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Most people spend several hours each day online for work, pleasure or both. The widespread usage of computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets offers countless opportunities to connect with information and people around the world. It also provides myriad opportunities for cyber criminals. During October, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is joining with the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), as well as county and municipal emergency management agencies, to increase awareness of online risks and provide tips on what people can do to prevent problems.
“We place a high priority on cyber security in Illinois and many improvements are being achieved to strengthen the state’s defense and build awareness against this growing public safety issue,” said Kirk Lonbom, Acting Secretary for the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT). “Illinois is making impressive progress toward the goals detailed in the state’s first cybersecurity strategy.”
The Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov provides links to information and tips to help people minimize the risk of being a cybercrime victim. Some of those tips include the following:
• Configure your computer securely Use privacy and security settings in your software, email system and web browsers. Regularly update your anti-virus software to identify and thwart new strains of malicious software.
• Keep software and operating systems updated Install all software updates as soon as they are offered; using the “auto update” setting is the best way to ensure timely updates.
• Use strong passwords Cybercriminals use automated programs that will try every word in the dictionary in a few minutes. When creating a password, use at least 10 characters, with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
• Be cautious about links and attachments Even communications you receive that appear to be from friends and family may contain links to malicious sites, so be careful when clicking on links in those messages. When in doubt, delete it.
Additionally, radio and television spots are airing statewide as part of the Ready Illinois broadcast preparedness campaign, which is aired in cooperation with the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) Public Education Partnership program. The spots will air on more than 200 Illinois radio stations and more than 30 Illinois television stations.
The spots feature Abraham Lincoln outside the White House reviewing his five-step battle plan for the nation’s current cyber security war. Mr. Lincoln reminds viewers and listeners of the following steps:
1.If it’s too good to be true, it probably is; 2.Hover your cursor over the links to determine the true web address; 3.Look for misspellings and poor grammar, which are warning signs of fraud; 4.Be suspicious of emails requesting urgent action; 5.Never give away sensitive personal information.
To see the latest cyber security public service announcement or learn more about tips cyber safety, visit www.ready.illinois.gov.
Details
The National EAS and WEA test has been postponed to the backup date of October 3, 2018, beginning at 2:18 p.m. EDT.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on the backup date of October 3, 2018 due to ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence. The WEA portion of the test commences at 2:18 p.m. EDT, and the EAS portion follows at 2:20 p.m. EDT. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed.
The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones that are connected to wireless providers participating in WEA. This is the fourth EAS nationwide test and the first national WEA test. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in November 2011, September 2016, and September 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.
The EAS is a national public warning system that provides the President with the communications capability to address the nation during a national emergency. The test is made available to EAS participants (i.e., radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers) and is scheduled to last approximately one minute. The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. The EAS message will include a reference to the WEA test:
“THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”
Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 2:18 p.m. EDT. During this time, WEA compatible cell phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA should be capable of receiving the test message. Some cell phones will not receive the test message, and cell phones should only receive the message once. The WEA test message will have a header that reads "Presidential Alert" and text that says:
“THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA messages (i.e. Tornado Warning, AMBER Alert). Users cannot opt out of receiving the WEA test.
The test was originally planned for September 20, 2018 but has been postponed until October 3, 2018 due to ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence.
Details
Interstate 74 speed limit to be reduced Aug. 31
Will be 60 mph between I-57, Cunningham Avenue
CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that the posted speed limit along Interstate 74 from west of I-57 to east of Cunningham Avenue will be reduced from 70 mph to 60 mph beginning Friday, Aug. 31.
IDOT recently completed a speed study on I-74 and I-57 in the Champaign-Urbana area and concluded that given the current prevailing speeds, crash rates and number of interchanges, a reduction of the posted speed limit on I-74 was justified. The study also showed that the current posted speed limit of 70 mph on I-57 is correct.
IDOT routinely reviews all state-maintained routes to determine whether any low-cost safety improvements can be made, including speed limits, striping, signal timing and roadside hazards. Speed is a significant factor in the severity of every crash, and the interaction between higher-speed through traffic on an interstate with lower-speed traffic entering or exiting at interchanges was shown to be an issue. Reducing the speed limit of through traffic to closer to that of traffic from interchanges gives drivers more time to react, thereby reducing the severity of a crash or avoiding one altogether.
For IDOT District 5 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict5 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.
