Illinois tops the nation with 115 tornadoes reported so far this year, far exceeding the average pace. Repeated severe storms and flooding have swept across neighborhoods, causing widespread disruption. In response, state emergency management officials are urging residents to review their disaster preparedness plans. They recommend checking local alerts, assembling emergency kits, and mapping out safe shelter locations. With more storms likely this severe weather season, officials emphasize that early preparation could make a crucial difference for families facing future tornadoes and flooding.
“Severe weather can strike with little warning, and the best defense is being ready before it happens,” said IEMA-OHS Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “The national ‘preparedness starts at home’ campaign reminds us that we each have a role to play by mapping out a plan and reviewing insurance coverage.”
“Spending just a small amount of time on preparedness can save you significant costs and frustration when disaster strikes,” Berger added. “Something as simple as checking with your insurance agency about flood coverage can give you peace of mind. Too often, people don’t discover a gap in insurance until it’s too late.”
IEMA-OHS provides several resources to help residents prepare for emergencies:
-
Emergency kits for home and vehicle: https://ready.illinois.gov/plan/gobag.html
-
Family communications plan (vital if phones or cell service are out): https://ready.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/ready/sitecollectiondocuments/ihs-family-communication-plan.pdf
-
Pet preparedness emergency kit: https://ready.illinois.gov/plan/animals.html
-
Digital safety: https://www.ready.gov/cybersecurity
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Leave a Reply