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 10, 2016 at 6:00 pm at the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) Training Center, 1701 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..
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IEMA Urges People to Prepare for Severe Weather
Contest will promote use of weather alert radios to receive warnings
SPRINGFIELD – With communities throughout Illinois still recovering from severe storms and record and near-record flooding in late December, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is joining with the National Weather Service (NWS) and local emergency management agencies in efforts to help people stay safe when severe weather threatens.
Those efforts include an online contest sponsored by IEMA and the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA) that offers Illinois residents a chance to win a weather alert radio. The ‘Weather Alert Radios Save Lives’ contest will begin on Feb. 28, the first day of Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois, and continue through March 31.
“We can’t stop severe weather from occurring, but we can help people better understand severe weather hazards and how they can stay safe when storms threaten their area,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “A key to being prepared is having a way to receive warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Weather alert radios can provide you with these alerts day or night, even when you’re sleeping.”
Joseph said 14 flood-related fatalities occurred in 2015, the highest annual number since records have been kept, according to the NWS. All of the fatalities were the result of vehicles traveling on flooded roadways. Illinois also experienced 69 tornadoes in 2015, which resulted in two fatalities and 27 injuries.
"Recent storms in Illinois and across the Midwest have proven how quickly flooding can develop at any time of the year," said Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS office in Lincoln. "We can't stress the dangers of flooding enough, particularly for motorists. Driving into a flooded area with any type of vehicle can be deadly. The best advice is simply 'Turn around, don't drown!’”
The weather alert radio contest will be available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov beginning Feb. 28 and will run through March 31. A total of 100 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.
“IESMA’s mission is to help protect the lives and property of the people we serve, and we’re proud to partner with IEMA on efforts that enhance the safety of people throughout the state,” said IESMA President Curtis Hawk. “This contest highlights a key component of preparedness – having a way to receive warnings from the National Weather Service. The weather alert radios awarded through this contest will help protect many people. We are proud to again sponsor this important program.”
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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Save the Date National Weather Service Spotter Training
March 24, 2016 6:30 PM-9:00PM
Parkland College 2400 West Bradley Ave --- Room C118 (Park in lot C4, enter the building in the C1 doorway).
Topics Covered in the spotter training class include: Spotter Safety Thunderstorm Development and features Types of Thunderstorms – especially those that impact Illinois Types of Tornadoes, Landspouts and Gustnadoes Non-tornadic severe weather (T-storm, Wind Gusts, Large Hail & Flooding) Resources for Spotters How and What Spotters Need to Report
If you have any questions please call the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency at 217-384-3826 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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IEMA Encourages People to Prepare for Earthquakes
Preparedness actions can prevent injuries, reduce property damage
SPRINGFIELD – Just over 200 years ago, parts of Illinois and several other states in the Central U.S. were rocked by some of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in North America, with the strongest quakes estimated to be around magnitude 8.0.
In recognition of the earthquake risk still posed today by the New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic zones in southern Illinois, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies will promote earthquake preparedness throughout February.
“Two hundred years ago, the Central U.S. was sparsely populated,” said IEMA Director James Joseph. “A similar earthquake today would have a devastating impact on millions of people in the region. While we can’t predict when the next major temblor will occur, we can help people learn how to protect themselves and reduce damage to their homes.”
Joseph noted that the actual movement of the ground in an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most casualties result from falling objects and debris caused by the earth shaking.
Learning how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” can help people prevent injury during an earthquake. The phrase reminds people to drop down to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture, and hold on to that object and be prepared to move with it until the shaking ends.
There are several steps people can take to help prevent injuries and property damage at home, including: • Strapping water heaters and large appliances to wall studs • Anchoring overhead light fixtures • Fastening shelves to wall studs and securing cabinet doors with latches • Strapping TVs, computers and other heavy equipment to prevent tipping • Learning how to shut off gas, water and electricity in case the lines are damaged
More information about earthquake preparedness is available at www.Ready.Illinois.gov. Earthquake safety tips will also be posted throughout February on the Ready Illinois Facebook (www.facebook.com/ReadyIllinois) and Twitter (twitter.com/ReadyIllinois) pages.
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New Initiative Encourages Installation of Active Radon Systems in New Homes
Radon leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the American Lung Association in Illinois (ALAIL) today announced the statewide launch of an initiative to encourage home builders to install activated radon mitigation systems in new homes. The systems reduce levels of radon, a radioactive gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall.
Today’s announcement of the Radon Excellence Program coincides with national Radon Action Month in January.
“Home builders in Illinois currently are required to install passive radon mitigation systems in all new construction,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “This program encourages builders to provide even more protection for their home buyers by activating those systems. It’s an easy, yet very important step they can take to help families avoid the serious health risk associated with radon.”
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that comes from the radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall.
Elevated levels of the radioactive gas have been found in all 102 Illinois counties. IEMA estimates nearly 1,200 Illinois citizens die from radon-related lung cancer each year.
IEMA and ALAIL launched a pilot of the program last year in Savoy with two Champaign builders, Signature Homes and Ironwood Homes who partnered with radon mitigation contractor David Smith Radon Remedies of Heyworth on the project. More than 100 new homes were built as part of the pilot program.
“Radon-induced lung cancer is responsible for the deaths of nearly 1,200 Illinoisans each year and is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “Given that nearly 40 percent of all homes tested in Illinois have radon levels in excess of recommended guidelines, we strongly encourage homeowners to test their homes for radon. There is no safe level for radon, but IDPH and IEMA recommend fixing homes that have levels at or above 4pCi/L.”
For more information about the Radon Excellence Program, visit the ALAIL website at http://www.healthhouse.org. Additional information about radon, including lists of licensed radon measurement and mitigation contractors, is available on IEMA’s radon webpage at www.radon.illinois.gov.
