As spring approaches, Illinois is bracing for the potential of thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, floods, and power outages. In response, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is urging all residents to take proactive steps 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.”
To help Illinoisans get ready for the unpredictable spring weather, IEMA-OHS recommends the following steps:
Keep all important records and documents in a secure, waterproof container.
Make an inventory of possessions using lists and photos or videos.
Insure your property and personal items; remember that flood insurance is not automatically included in most policies.
Know how to shut off your home utilities such as electricity, gas, and water.
Assemble an emergency kit and a “go bag” with supplies to sustain your family for at least three days during outages or evacuations.
Ensure you have flashlights with fresh batteries if the power goes out.
Keep a backup cell phone charger fully charged.
Only operate generators outdoors, never indoors or in enclosed spaces.
For a full list of emergency kit ideas and preparedness tips, residents can visit ready.illinois.gov/plan/emergencykit.html.
The Ready Illinois website, maintained by IEMA-OHS, is a comprehensive resource offering detailed guidance on what to do before, during, and after disasters. Residents are encouraged to use this one-stop site to help protect themselves and their families as severe weather season begins.