Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) has designated March as Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The agency is focusing on helping families prepare for severe weather events, which can impact communities across the state.

"From flash flooding to tornadoes, Illinoisans should be prepared for severe weather," stated IEMA-OHS Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. She noted that the state experienced 11 tornadoes and hail recently, alongside unseasonably warm temperatures and potential flooding risks.

Ed Shimon, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln, emphasized the importance of preparedness: "It is so important to have a plan and be prepared to take action when the weather turns life-threatening near your location." He cited past experiences with EF3 tornadoes in Robinson and Lewiston as examples where quick action saved lives.

In 2023, Illinois faced two major Presidential Disaster Declarations due to severe weather and flooding, resulting in over $462 million in damages. Flooding remains the most common natural hazard nationwide. According to FEMA, even a small amount of water can cause significant damage.

To mitigate flood-related risks, the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) advise homeowners, renters, and businesses to consider flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Erin Conley from IDNR highlighted that there is a 30-day waiting period for policies to become active: "Now is the time to act to get everyone protected for spring/summer flooding."

Preparedness efforts also include planning for power outages or evacuations. IEMA-OHS provides resources for mapping meeting locations and tracking contact information. They recommend keeping records in waterproof containers, making inventories of possessions, ensuring property insurance coverage, knowing how to shut off utilities like electricity and gas, compiling emergency kits for at least three days' use during outages or evacuations, maintaining flashlights with fresh batteries ready for use during power cuts, and running generators only outdoors.

Further tips and ideas are available at Ready.Illinois.gov's website.