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Champaign Forecast

Hazardous Weather Outlook
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National Preparedness Month: Americans Stand Ready

This year’s theme will focus on several distinct ideas that capture how Americans take pride in their ability to protect themselves and their families and work together to recover from disasters:

  • Americans stand ready to uphold our patriotic duty: When individuals are prepared and self-reliant, we can bolster the work our brave first responders do to help people on their worst day. 
  • Americans stand ready to protect our family and friends: We know best how to keep our loved ones safe when things go wrong.
  • Americans stand ready to help our communities: Taking a proactive approach to get your community ready contributes to the nation’s resilience.

Throughout the month of September, the Ready Campaign will share easy, affordable steps to take to stand ready, no matter what comes. Tips include:

  • Be in the know. Make sure you know where to get information when you need it most. Download the FEMA App to get emergency safety alerts and resources.
  • Make a plan to keep you and your family safe and prepared. The plan should include emergency contact information, emergency meeting places and medical information.
  • Build a kit with the essential items your family needs to stay safe and comfortable if something happens.
  • Be there for your community. From volunteering in your community to learning skills like first aid and CPR, you can take steps to prepare for disasters and keep your family safe and make your neighborhood and community more resilient. Take a training course through FEMA’s Training and Education Program, the American Red Cross, or your local emergency management agency to build or gain skills to protect yourself, family, friends and community.
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Could you be eligible for federal assistance after the August storms across Illinois?

This storm system stretched across the month of August and impacted multiple counties. Because this system was so large, we need to collect damage data in Champaign County to potentially request assistance. The damage could be from a tornado, straight-line winds, rain, and/or flooding.  And the damage could be to homes, businesses, and certain non-profit organizations.

If you had any damage at all to your home (roof, gutters, basement, hot water heater, furnace and air conditioner, washer/dryer, furniture, vehicles? etc.) or business, we need to track that information. Home businesses would submit both as a residence and as a business.

While you might think that your damage—or your community’s damage—isn’t  significant enough to report, it will definitely help state government to add the damage losses together to map the statewide losses.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security is hopeful that by documenting ALL the costs from this storm system, it can request assistance for you from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

If you haven’t already, please use either this link (https://iemaohs.illinois.gov/recovery.html) or this code to enter your damage description.

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Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security

Pet Preparedness Means Planning and Pre-Disaster Packing

 Did you know that in a recent survey of pet owners who had to evacuate their homes in a disaster, nearly half left at least one pet behind? And 83 percent of those pet owners reported living in a community that faces a natural disaster?
 
These statistics from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ACPCA) show how important it is to include your pets in your evacuation plan and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA OHS) has tips on how to do that. This is a good time to do that because June is National Pet Preparedness Month.
 
“For many Illinoisans, pets are a part of their family,” said IEMA-OHS Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “We encourage everyone to have a pet preparedness plan and be prepared for sheltering in place or evacuating with your pets.”
 
Actions to take to keep pets safe in a disaster:
• Have a photo of you and your pets handy for identification purposes
• Save a copy of pet medical records
• Keep leashes, harnesses, and carriers handy
• Create a pet preparedness kit with medications, non-perishable food and treats, water, bowls, cat litter and pan, waste bags, a familiar blanket, bedding for pocket/exotic pets (and perhaps a heat source), and toys
• Identify a safe area of your home where all can stay together with supplies during a shelter-in-place recommendation
• Coordinate with a neighbor, family, or friend about collecting pets and their preparedness kit if you are away from home, along with a meeting point where you can reunify
• Don’t allow pets to roam loose in a damaged home or neighborhood.
 
Many shelters or other emergency centers do not allow pets because of health and safety concerns, so it is critical that you plan ahead for your pets’ care.
 
More tips on pet preparedness information can be found here:
 
Disaster preparedness information is readily available from IEMA-OHS on the Ready Illinois website, a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during, and after disasters.
 
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Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security

April is Hazardous Materials Awareness Month

SPRINGFIELD– Residents may not always know what chemicals are used in their community or how to interpret the safety codes posted on certain buildings. That’s why agencies including the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), Illinois Department of Labor, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Fire Service Institute (ISFI), and local fire and emergency management partners monitor and manage this critical information.

These subject matter experts know what materials are considered hazardous, providing advice to businesses and others on hazardous material safety, and provides a system for reporting spills or other potentially dangerous releases.
This Hazardous Materials Safety Month, IEMA-OHS hopes everyone takes some time to learn about potential hazards in their communities. “Being proactive and safety conscious is key,” said IEMA-OHS Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “Each year, facilities that store certain hazardous chemicals are required to report their inventories to the State. These reports help ensure that emergency planners and first responders have the information they need to protect their communities.”

IEMA-OHS coordinates shared efforts with ISFI to provide guidance and hazardous materials training, with updates every four years or sooner as needed. Federal funds are used to provide hazardous materials training to first responders in the State of Illinois, including public employees who may come across hazardous materials during their workday.

“Illinois has just under 9200 active Tier II chemical facilities,” explained IEMA-OHS Hazardous Materials Section Supervisor David Martin. “When properly managed and stored, these chemicals can be used safely and utilized by responsible parties. The State of Illinois has proactive and well-trained regional and local responders, which reduces risk.”

The federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) mandates that each state designates a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) to implement the requirements of the act. Under the Illinois EPCRA, IEMA-OHS is designated as the SERC.

As such, IEMA-OHS works closely with Local Emergency Planning Committees, first responders, and emergency managers to ensure local communities have knowledge and access to information about certain types of hazardous materials located within their communities and are prepared in the event of chemical release.

Disaster preparedness information is readily available from IEMA-OHS on the Ready Illinois website, a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during, and after disasters.

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Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security

Are You Ready for Severe Weather Season?
March is the time to prepare


SPRINGFIELD – Thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, floods, and power outages are all possible during Illinois’ spring weather season. That is why the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is urging all residents to take steps to prepare during Severe Weather Preparedness Month this March.

“Millions of dollars in storm damages within the last year shows just how quickly severe weather can impact our communities,” said IEMA-OHS Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “We understand that severe weather can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it unprepared. Taking time now to plan and gather essentials can help protect the people and places you care about most.”

IEMA-OHS recommends that you:
• Keep all important records and documents in a secure waterproof container
• Make an inventory of possessions using lists and photos/videos
• Insure your property and personal items (many renters, homeowners, and business owners don’t realize that flood insurance isn’t automatically part of an insurance policy)
• Know how to shut off your home utilities like electricity, gas, and water
• Assemble an emergency kit and “go bag” to help your family for at least three days during extended power outages or in case of evacuation
• If power is out, make sure flashlights with fresh batteries are ready
• Have a backup cell phone charger fully charged
• Generators should only be run outside, never indoors or in enclosed spaces

More tips and preparedness kit ideas can be found at https://ready.illinois.gov/plan/emergencykit.html


Disaster preparedness information is ready available from IEMA-OHS on the Ready Illinois website, a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during, and after disasters.

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