Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for most of Illinois' counties.

A Winter Storm Warning indicates heavy snow (greater than 6"), heavy sleet (1/2" +), or a combination of winter weather hazards are highly likely or occurring. Stay indoors and adjust travel plans!

A Winter Weather Advisory indicates snow accumulating 2 to 5 inches, or a combination of winter weather conditions will cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous, especially to motorists. Use caution if you venture out!

As this weather approaches, it's important to stay updated on conditions and take appropriate safety precautions. Tune into your local TV or radio stations for updates, or check out the weather on www.weather.gov. If you have a NOAA weather radio, stay tuned to updates for your local area.

If you have travel plans, you can check on road conditions through the Illinois Department of Transportation's website at www.gettingaroundillinois.com.

For more information about staying safe during winter weather, check out the Winter Storm Preparedness Guide.

IEMA's 12-Month Preparedness Campaign turns its focus to workplace preparedness during February. Throughout the month, the agency will feature information, tips and guidance about workplace preparedness planning. There are several aspects to workplace preparedness, including worker and customer safety and business continuity of operations.

Click here to read more.

A newly forged partnership between amateur radio operators throughout the state and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will provide an additional layer of emergency communications during disasters. The agreement creates the State Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) program, which will facilitate communications between the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and the amateur radio operators in Illinois. The agreement further strengthens the state's federally approved State Communications Interoperability Plan, which includes several layers of redundant communications systems.

Click here to read more.

Assistance with locating family members

The heartbreaking tragedy in Haiti has affected people throughout Illinois, including many who may be attempting to locate missing family and friends in the earthquake-ravaged country. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a website (www.icrc.org/familylinks) to assist with these searches. In addition to the ICRC website, individuals can contact the State dept's Haiti desk at 1-888-407-4747.



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Donations to the relief effort

Businesses, civic organizations and other groups wishing to assist with the relief effort in Haiti are asked to register those offers with the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) database at www.cidi.org. The CIDI indicates that the preferred method for assisting with the disaster is by providing a cash donation to an agency with experience working in Haiti. The www.cidi.org website links to a list of InterAction member agencies that are accepting cash donation in response to this emergency.

Individuals can also help with relief efforts by donating to the relief organizations such as the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) and the Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org). Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information at www.cidi.org.



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Haitian Earthquake Disaster Email Scams and Search Engine Poisoning Campaigns

US-CERT would like to warn users of potential email scams and search engine poisoning campaigns that may circulate regarding the Haitian Earthquake disaster. The scam emails may contain links or attachments which may direct users to phishing or malware-laden websites. Fraudulent search engine results may return similar malicious web links to phishing and malware websites.

US-CERT encourages users to take the following measures to protect themselves:

• Do not follow unsolicited web links or attachments in email messages.
• Maintain up-to-date antivirus software.
• Review the Federal Trade Commission's Charity Checklist.
• Verify the legitimacy of the email by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number. Trusted contact information can be found on the Better Business Bureau National Charity Report Index.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.

Year-long campaign to focus on different aspects of preparedness during 2010

As people throughout Illinois make resolutions for the New Year, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is hoping many will resolve to become better prepared for emergencies during 2010. To help with those resolutions, the agency has launched a year-long preparedness campaign called the "12-Month Preparedness Campaign."

"People sometimes think emergency preparedness is too daunting, so they don't do anything," said IEMA Director Andrew Velasquez III. "By focusing on one aspect of preparedness each month, we'll take people through preparedness step by step. Hopefully, by the end of this year people will find it was easy to become better prepared for disasters."

Velasquez said IEMA will focus on a different preparedness topic each month in 2010, beginning with home preparedness in January. Throughout the month, the agency will feature personal and family preparedness tips and guidance on the Ready Illinois website, as well as photos, videos and additional preparedness information through the Ready Illinois Facebook page. Directions on assembling a disaster supply kit and information about family emergency plans are two of the subjects that will be featured during January.

Other topics to be addressed during the year-long campaign include home preparedness, workplace preparedness, earthquake preparedness, children and preparedness, weather-related preparedness, cyber security, preparedness for people with pets and livestock and preparedness for people with functional needs.

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Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways, including the timing of the beginning, severity and length. This flu season there are more uncertainties than usual because of the emergence of a new flu virus, H1N1, previously called "swine flu." Scientists are predicting that the H1N1 virus may cause the flu season to be worse than usual with a lot more people getting sick, being hospitalized and dying than during a typical flu seasonal. Click on the above H1N1 flu or seasonal flu logo on this page for the most up-to-date information and to learn about ways to protect yourself and your family from getting ill. Thank you for visiting ready.illinois.gov.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Influenza website

Weather radios, emergency preparedness kits, flashlights, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are just a few of the unique holiday gift ideas that could help your friends and family deal with emergencies. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OPSFM) recently offered safety-minded holiday gift ideas.

Read the IEMA/OSFM press release for more information.

The "Get Ready! A disaster preparedness activity book" is a fun new way for children to learn how to prepare for all types of emergencies. The activity book includes a variety of mazes, word searches, crossword puzzles and other activities that help kids understand the importance of preparedness.

Click here for the activity book.

Governor Pat Quinn announced that Illinois' homeland security program ranked in the top four percent of state programs in a recent review of program effectiveness by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Illinois received an overall effectiveness score of 91 out of 100. The national average effectiveness score was 71.

FEMA scorecard gives Illinois program exceptional marks for effectiveness...read full press release

Governor Pat Quinn announced on July 2 that the state's request for federal assistance to local governments and electrical cooperatives that will help them recover from the May 8 wind storm has been approved. The federal disaster declaration will enable local governments and electrical power cooperatives in Franklin, Gallatin, Jackson, Randolph, Saline and Williamson counties to recover 75 percent of their extraordinary costs related to storm response and recovery.

Read full Press Release

Illinois' campaign to encourage people to be prepared for disasters has a new TV spot thanks to the creative efforts of a high school junior from Springfield. Lanphier High School student Brittny Barger submitted the winning entry in the "Ready Illinois High School Challenge" contest, and her script has already been produced as a 30-second TV spot. The contest was sponsored by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF), in cooperation with the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA).

Illinois' first-ever Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) was approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and has been officially accepted by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois State Police, Illinois Terrorism Task Force, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Emergency Services Management Association, Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, and Chicago/Cook County Urban Area.

The plan identifies a statewide strategy that focuses on establishing a single platform so all public safety agencies can share emergency information. The development of the SCIP was a cooperative effort by a consortium of federal, state, and local public safety practitioners working through the Illinois Terrorism Task Force’s Communications Committee and the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee. Annual reviews/updates to the SCIP will be conducted under the auspices of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

The Illinois Terrorism Task Force has developed a training program for governmental and private sector employees on basic safety procedures to follow when faced with a suspicious piece of mail or a bomb. The program includes a threat checklist brochure, a sample action plan for dealing with suspicious packages, and a downloadable 30-minute media presentation with audio narrative. For more information, please visit the Terrorism page of the Ready Illinois website.

Being prepared for disasters and emergencies is important for everyone, but it can be even more critical for special needs individuals, who may rely on the assistance of others during an emergency. A new publication developed by a team of emergency management and health professionals addresses the unique preparedness considerations of individuals with functional needs and their caregivers. "Emergency Preparedness Tips for Those with Functional Needs" offers preparedness tips for people with visual, cognitive, or mobility impairments; citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing; those who utilize service animals or life support systems; and seniors. Please click here for more information.