August is Pet and Livestock Preparedness Month
While every household should have a disaster preparedness kit stocked with survival necessities such as food, water, flashlights and batteries, homes with pets and livestock need to take an extra step when planning for disasters. Whether an emergency forces people to seek shelter within the home or evacuate, advanced planning can ensure pet and livestock safety and make the situation much less stressful.
Throughout August, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will be working to increase awareness of pet and livestock preparedness as part of its 12 Month Preparedness Campaign.
Read the press release about Pet and Livestock Preparedness month.
More Animal and Pet Preparedness Information
12-Month Campaign Focuses on Heat Safety
Extreme heat causes more deaths than all other weather combined
IEMA's 12-Month Preparedness Campaign will promote heat safety throughout July, which is typically the hottest month of the year in Illinois. Most extreme high temperature records have been set during July, including the state's hottest month ever recorded in July 1936. Extreme temperatures aren't just uncomfortable -- they are also responsible for more weather-related deaths than all other weather phenomena combined.
Read the press release about heat safety month.
Governor Quinn Secures SBA Disaster Assistance to Help Communities Affected by June 5 Tornadoes
Homeowners, Businesses Affected by Tornadoes in North Central Illinois Eligible to Apply for Low-Interest Loans
On June 18th Governor Pat Quinn asked President Obama to declare Kankakee, LaSalle, Livingston, Peoria and Putnam counties major disasters areas. If approved, a federal disaster declaration would help people and businesses affected by the June 5th tornadoes recover from the storm's aftermath by allowing them to apply for grants and loans to assist with storm-related losses.
On July 6th Governor Pat Quinn announced that the state's request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration has been granted for several counties in north central Illinois that were hit by tornadoes on June 5. The declaration will make low-interest loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses in the primary counties of LaSalle, Livingston and Peoria, as well as 15 contiguous counties, including Kankakee and Putnam.
Press Releases
Severe Weather Preparedness
There are a number of severe weather hazards that affect Illinois, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, floods and flash floods, damaging winds and large hail, snow and ice. Severe weather hazards have the potential to cause extensive property damage, injury and/or death.
In order to assist the people of Illinois to be better prepared in case of severe weather, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), works together with the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross to promote weather preparedness through public awareness campaigns. These goals are reached through press releases, media coverage and publication of a booklet containing information regarding safety measures, warning signs, historical data and contact information. The Severe Weather Preparedness document can be found here.
For information on severe winter weather, click here.
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IEMA Partners with Amateur Radio Operators
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.
Studies regarding risks of computed tomography (CT) scans
Recent news coverage of the use of computed tomography (CT) and the resultant patient radiation dose may cause concern for individuals whose medical conditions may require such imaging procedures. There are 438 CT facilities in Illinois and all are inspected by IEMA's Bureau of Radiation Safety each year. The inspection reviews physical characteristics of the x-ray beam, including a dose measurement, and quality assurance (QA) programs, which ensure the machine is operating according to the manufacturers' specifications. The results of our inspections show a very high level of compliance for these facilities. In addition to IEMA's inspection, each facility must perform QA procedures on a regular schedule and address the performance of the machine with regard to image quality.
We encourage patients to be cognizant of their personal radiation dose and to discuss with their physician the risk versus benefit of all procedures involving the use of radiation.
Please visit the Agency's website for more information on the "Image Gently" campaign to lower pediatric radiation dose and news regarding CT brain perfusion scans.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Don Agnew, Manager, Electronic Products Section, at 217-785-9975.
Illinois' Homeland Security Program Rated in Top 4 Percent in Nation
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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
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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.
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www.Flu.gov - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Influenza website |
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