UPDATE: IROQUOIS COUNTY MITIGATION PLAN
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS in IROQUOIS COUNTY are reminded about the need for their input for a successful Natural-Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Iroquois County ESDA and the Zoning Office are working with Stantec, a professional consulting firm, to complete a detailed, comprehensive plan to mitigate future disasters. A letter to stakeholders is again asking for input………
IROQUOIS COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISASTER AGENCY
550 South 10th Street, Watseka, IL 60970
www.iqesda.com iqesda@iqesda.com Phone (815) 432-6997
June 22, 2009
Dear Iroquois County Mitigation Stakeholder:
Stantec is interested in scheduling another Mitigation Meeting for all interested County Stakeholders. The Plan is now in a holding position because Stantac has not received any information from the Iroquois County Mitigation Stakeholders. Without the vital information regarding mitigation needs in your area the plan cannot move forward. The lack of response from our municipalities and townships has halted the process at this point. If your community does not submit information, the plan may not include data of events that may have significantly affected your citizens. The intent for the mitigation plan is to have an overall plan for all of Iroquois County.
All municipalities and townships must submit their information to get the Mitigation Plan completed. It is important that stakeholders submit information and attend the planning meetings to be included in the Mitigation Plan and better positioned to obtain grants for mitigation projects.
In an effort to move forward efficiently and develop a multi-hazard mitigation plan that incorporates the concerns in your community and township it is important the following information is submitted:
” Event details:
” The date and type of event, and an estimate of the impact.
” The location of the event and the extent of damages in terms of dollars, loss of economic function, displacement, etc.
” Any records detailing the event, which could include eye-witness accounts, newspaper articles, photographs, or recovery efforts.
” Critical facilities in your jurisdiction:
” A critical facility is something which, if disrupted, will impact the health and/or safety of residents and respondents.
” Critical facilities include high-pressure gas lines, electricity transmission facilities, hospitals, emergency response services, etc.
” If possible, please provide the latitude and longitude of these sites, along with property value estimates. At a minimum, please provide an address and a description of the services rendered by the facility.
” Any regulatory or planning documents impacting land use planning, such as zoning or subdivision ordinances or flood mitigation plans or ordinances.
” Anything else you may feel would be beneficial for us to know.
This information is vital to developing a plan that makes sense for your community. Please send this information to Mike.Anderson@stantec.com or send information to Carl Gerdovich, 550 South 10th Street, Watseka, IL 60970. If you have any questions, you may contact Carl Gerdovich at (815)432-6997 or cgesda@co.iroquois.il.us or Mike Anderson may be contacted at Mike.Anderson@stantec.com. This important information for your jurisdiction should be submitted to either Carl or Mike by July 6, 2009. After all the information is received, another meeting date will be set.
Thank you for your prompt response with this vital information.
Sincerely, Sincerely,
Carl Gerdovich Gloria Schleef
Carl Gerdovich Gloria Schleef
ESDA Director Zoning Administrator
POWER OUTAGE in IROQUOIS COUNTY
AMEREN CUSTOMERS EFFECTED BY POWER OUTAGE
AmerenCIPS customers in Iroquois County were left without service Monday afternoon. But a company spokesman said the outage was short-lived. Repair crews had electricity restored within an hour, according to Ameren customer service representative Leigh Morris.
A utility pole caught fire in Watseka causing a cross arm to break and twist. That caused a breaker to trip and eliminate power to 3,096 customers in Iroquois County. Communities effected included Watseka, Beaverville, Donovan, Iroquois, Martinton, Papineau and Sheldon. Service was out from 5:14 pm until 6:06 pm.
courtesy Iroquois County ESDA 6-29-09
TOO HOT: TAKE PRECAUTIONS — say Emergency Management Officials.
HEALTH OFFICIALS SUGGEST YOU TAKE TAKE PRECAUTIONS FROM THE SWELTERING HEAT…
Just about everyone is complaining about the heat and humidity, but it’s a serious problem according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Passing out, vomiting, even heat-stroke and death are possible when the weather brings extremely hot temperatures.
Iroquois County ESDA, Red Cross, and Volunteer Churches and Community Centers have made cooling centers available for those people needing relief from the humidity.
Kelly Jakubek, Public Health spokeswoman, says prevention is the best way to handle the heat. These warnings usually go out later in the summer, but the heat and humidity showed up early. The tips are:
* Drink more of fluids, regardless of your activity level. Do not wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Make an extra effort to drink a minimum of six eight-ounce glasses of cool fluids daily. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses of cool fluids each hour. Parents should be sure young children get sufficient fluids. If you are on a special fluid-restricted diet or if you take diuretics, ask your physician about fluid intake during hot weather.
* Avoid liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar. They cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps.
* Take cool showers, baths or sponge baths, which can reduce body temperatures. In addition, wet clothing has a cooling effect.
* Protect your body. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. When spending time outdoors, avoid direct sunlight, wear a hat and use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15 to protect yourself against sunburn.
* Never leave anyone, including pets, alone in a closed, parked vehicle.
* Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place.
* Seek out the nearest facility that is air conditioned, such as a cooling shelter, a senior citizen center, a church, a mall, the local YMCA or a center designated by your community. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Fans alone will not effectively cool an overheated person when air temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you must go outside:
* Slow down and avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the early morning or late evening hours when it is cooler.
* Take regular breaks when engaged in physical activity on warm days. Try to rest often in shady or cool areas. If you recognize that you, or someone else, are showing signs of a heat-related illness, stop activity and find a cool place.
Anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, but some people are at greater risk. Check regularly on:
* Infants and young children
* People aged 65 or older
* People who have mental illness
* Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure.
–courtesy: Iroquois County ESDA 6-26-09
NWS issues another Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory
Statement as of 11:18 AM EDT on June 25, 2009
…Heat advisory in effect until 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ this evening… Thursday, June 25, 2009
The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a heat advisory…which is in effect until 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ this evening.
Temperatures rising into the low 90s and dewpoints in the middle 70s will allow the heat index to increase to 100 to 105 this afternoon. With nearly calm winds and ample sunshine…conditions will be quite oppressive this afternoon and early evening.
Isolated thunderstorms may provide some cooling…though location and timing of these storms is uncertain at this time.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A heat advisory means that a period of high temperatures is expected. The combination of heat and humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. Drink plenty of fluids…stay in an air-conditioned room…stay out of the sun…and check up on relatives and neighbors. Bring pets indoors and provide plenty of water for them as well.
HOTLINE AVAILABLE for H1N1 (Swine Flu) QUESTIONS
ILLINOIS OPENS HOTLINE FOR QUESTIONS; English, Spanish lines to be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily ….
SPRINGFIELD - A new hotline opened Saturday morning to provide Illinois residents with easy access to information about the H1N1 flu (swine flu). The hotline (866-848-2094 for English, 866-241-2138 for Spanish) will operate daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for as long as needed. Hotline operators will be equipped to answer basic, non-medical questions related to the outbreak and will be able to refer callers to additional information sources.
“With the flu outbreak in the news every day, we know many people have questions,” said Andrew Velasquez III, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). “Through this hotline, we hope to answer basic questions and connect people with sources for additional information.”
The line will be staffed by state employee volunteers from several agencies, with support from public health professionals from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Spanish-speaking operators also will be available. IEMA and IDPH are conducting a training session for hotline operators today in advance of the hotline opening.
In addition, information about the H1N1 (swine flu) also is continually updated on the state’s Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov. Information on the Ready Illinois site is available in English, Spanish and Polish.
Courtesy www.iqesda.com ***