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Created: 22 December 2016

llinois State Police Encourages Safe Driving Habits During the Holidays

PESOTUM – The upcoming holidays will bring family and friends together for the final major celebrations of the year.  Unfortunately, some will choose to make life-threatening driving decisions while behind the wheel.  Captain Louis Kink, District 10 Commander, encourages everyone to enjoy the holidays, but to do so responsibly.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among those aged 1-54 in the U.S., and traffic crashes are largely preventable.  If you are traveling during the holidays, please be accountable for your actions and do your part to prevent a traffic crash.
If you will be attending a holiday celebration were alcohol is involved, please make sure you use a designated driver or make necessary arrangements to ensure an intoxicated person does not get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Before you start your trip, make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.  It is estimated that the risk of fatal injuries is cut in half when seat belts are properly worn.  Also, be sure to eliminate distractions.  Taking your eyes off the road for any reason is not a good idea.  Looking at a cell phone for five seconds at 55 mph is like driving blind for the length of a football field.
Be sure to watch your speed.  The faster you are going, the less time you have to react when trying to avoid a crash.  Furthermore, the faster you are going, the greater the chance of a crash resulting in serious injury.  
“It’s more than being involved in a crash, it’s about the devastation that a fatal car crash causes.” Captain Louis Kink added.  “Our District 10 Troopers will aggressively patrol our roadways looking for impaired drivers and other drivers whose actions may potentially cause a fatal crash.  We want everyone to arrive alive and enjoy the holiday season. Be sure to designate a driver if you will be drinking and never ride in a car with an impaired driver.  Please also remember my troopers and other authorized emergency vehicle operators have families waiting for them to return safely home.  Please move over and slow down when approaching any stationary emergency vehicles.”
Don’t ruin anyone’s festivities this holiday season.  Be accountable for your actions behind the wheel and drive responsibly.

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Created: 01 December 2016

IEMA Highlights Safety during the Holidays

Encourages holiday shoppers to give preparedness gifts this year

SPRINGFIELD – If you’re trying to find the perfect holiday gifts for everyone on your list, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is offering ideas that will help your loved ones stay safe when disaster strikes. IEMA is focusing on holiday safety throughout December as part of its annual preparedness campaign.

“As we saw with the flooding last December, disasters can happen at any time and without much warning,” said IEMA Director James Joseph. “Giving friends and loved ones items that will help them be better prepared for the unexpected shows how much you care about their safety.”

Joseph said preparedness gift ideas include the following:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather alert radio with battery backup, a tone-alert feature and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology. These radios provide warnings and critical post-event information for tornadoes and other severe weather, natural, environmental and public safety hazards.
• 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.

Most preparedness gift items can be found in hardware and department stores. For additional information on emergency preparedness, visit the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov. 

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Created: 15 November 2016

WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK

November 13-19, 2016

http://www.weather.gov/ilx/winter-prep                                     FACT SHEET- 2016

Cold Temperatures
- 182 people have died from exposure to cold temperatures in the state of Illinois since 1996. This is much more than severe thunderstorms and tornadoes (64 deaths), floods (48 deaths) and lightning (19 deaths) – combined during the same period.
- The coldest temperature on record in the state occurred on January 5, 1999 when the mercury dipped to -36 °F near Congerville in Woodford County!
- Hypothermia sets in when your body’s temperature drops below 95 degrees. Because hypothermia is based on your body’s temperature and not the air temperature, it is possible to get hypothermia even when the air temperature is in the mid-60s. Keep your home at 68 degrees or warmer.

Winter Storms

- Illinois normally experiences five severe winter storms each year. During the winter of 2015-16 there were four severe winter storms, compared to nine the previous winter.
- As few as two (in the winters of 1921-1922 and 1980-1981), and as many as 18 winter storms (in the winters of 1977-1978 and 1981-1982) have occurred. There has not been a winter in Illinois without a winter storm in the past century.
- Heavy snow can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, closing airports, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and medical services.

- Snow, ice storms and freezing rain are deadly for drivers. In Illinois, snow and ice covered roads result in an average of 27,900 vehicle crashes each year. The accidents also produce an average of 4,338 injuries and 49 fatalities annually.
 If the temperature is below 32, drive like you’re on ice - you may be! Make sure you have food, water and blankets in your trunk. Stay off the roads when advised to do so by local authorities.

Snow
- Average annual snowfall ranges from nearly
40 inches of snow north of Chicago, to as
little as 5 inches in the southern tip of Illinois
- In central Illinois, average snowfall is 20 to
25 inches, while areas south of I-70
normally experience 12 to 16 inches
- The average liquid water to snow ratio in
central IL is 13:1 (This means, on average, there are 13.0” of snow for
every 1.00” of liquid / melted snow)

Ice Storms
- Locations from just south of Quincy, through Lincoln, to
Watseka experience more freezing rain and ice storms
than any other part of the state, on average.
- Several major ice storms have impacted Illinois
recently. The most recent was in southeast Illinois on
Feb. 1-2, 2011 which created week-long power outages
and nearly $10 Million damage to power poles and
lines, as well as trees.

Winter Flooding
- Winter flooding is particularly dangerous. It can occur due to heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt and ice jams. Evacuating into cold waters can RAPIDLY result in hypothermia
- Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Never drive into floodwaters!
- Six inches of swiftly moving water can knock an adult over and sweep him or her away. Twelve inches of water can float a small car. 18-24 inches of water will carry off most large vehicles.
- More than 50 percent of flooding fatalities occur in vehicles.

Fog

-  Driving in fog is dangerous due to reduced visibility
-  A Dense Fog Advisory means that widespread visibility reductions of a quarter of a mile or less are expected or occurring.
- If you encounter fog, slow down! This will give you more time to react to any obstacles you may encounter in the roadway. Leave extra space between you and the car ahead of you and turn on your headlights to low beams. Consider delaying your travel plans.

Know Your Risk, Take Action, Be a Force of Nature

1. Know Your Risk
● Check www.weather.gov/Lincoln every morning before you leave home. It may be sunny in the morning but snowing in the afternoon. Be prepared.

2. Take Action!
● Assemble an emergency supplies kit for your home. If an ice storm cuts power for several days, would you be prepared? Make sure that you have 72 hours of food, water and other necessary supplies in your kit.
● Write a family communications plan so that everyone in your life knows how to stay in touch. What if a blizzard trapped you away from home? Would your family know what to do? Would your friends know how to reach you? Make a plan today.

3. Be A Force of Nature
● You’re an inspiration. Let people know that you have an emergency supplies kit and family communications plan - doing so will inspire others to action. Share your preparedness story on social media using #WinterSafety. Help the National Weather Service build a Weather-Ready Nation.

Web Links
- Web page to monitor winter storms and get winter road conditions: http://www.weather.gov/ilx/winter_monitor
- Winter preparedness: http://www.weather.gov/ilx/winter-prep
- Social media page to follow NWS Lincoln Facebook, Twitter and You Tube Feeds: http://www.weather.gov/ilx/ilx_social_media

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Created: 03 October 2016

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Governor Rauner issues proclamation encouraging Illinoisans
to stay safe online

SPRINGFIELD – Reports on computer hacks and online information breaches are in the news almost daily. While the news stories come and go, the effects of having your personal information compromised can be long-lasting. To highlight the importance of understanding and avoiding cyber risks, Governor Bruce Rauner has proclaimed October National Cyber Security Awareness Month in Illinois.

“Cybercrime is a very real threat across the globe,” Gov. Rauner said. “Here in Illinois, our new Department of Innovation and Technology is spearheading efforts to keep the state’s networks safe from the continual barrage of attacks. It’s equally important for individuals, schools, businesses, organizations and others to work to keep their online information secure.”

“Cybersecurity threat impacts all of us, and is truly a citizen safety issue,” said Hardik Bhatt, State CIO and Secretary Designate of the Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT). “Through Governor Rauner’s leadership, the state of Illinois is securing our technology infrastructure through partnerships with different levels of government and critical infrastructure partners. For a truly cyber-secure Illinois, we believe that the most important cybersecurity partnership for us is with our citizens."

During the month, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies are joining to increase awareness of online risks and provide tips on what people can do to prevent problems.

“The Internet touches nearly every aspect of our daily lives,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “From computers and laptops at homes, schools and workplaces to smartphones and tablets, the ability to instantly connect with information and people around the world offers countless opportunities for everyone, including criminals. Fortunately, there are steps everyone can take to stay safe online.”

Joseph said the Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign is a global safety awareness campaign to help people stay safe online. The campaign offers many tips and information for online security, including:
• Keep security software current to defend against viruses, malware and other online threats.
• Protect all devices that connect to the Internet, including computers, smartphones, gaming systems and other web-enabled devices.
• Use security software to scan USBs and other external devices for viruses and malware.
• Make passwords long and strong by combine capital and lowercase letters with number and symbols.
• Have unique passwords for every account.
• Avoid suspicious links in emails, tweets, posts and online advertising, which can be the way for cybercriminals to access your computer.
• When banking and shopping online, check to be sure the site is security enabled (https:// means the site takes extra measures to secure your information).
• Protect your work, music, photos and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safely.
 
More information about cyber security is available at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.