Gov. Blagojevich Declares State of Emergency Following NIU Shootings

IEMA Personnel Dispatched to DeKalb to Provide State Assistance to University and Local Law Enforcement Teams

[February 15, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich declared a state of emergency in the aftermath of Thursday's shootings at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. The declaration will open the governor's disaster relief fund for local units of government to reimburse them for their extraordinary expenses related to the response in NIU DeKalb and will facilitate the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in providing assistance to local units of government in responding to and recovering from this event.

"The state of Illinois will provide whatever assistance and support is necessary to university staff and students and to local officials," said Blagojevich. "The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has the necessary personnel in place to provide whatever help might be needed."

Earlier Thursday, Blagojevich activated the State Emergency Operation Center to coordinate the state's response. In addition, the state is providing on-site assistance at NIU, including:

• Illinois State Police Northern Tactical Response team members, state police officers and Illinois Department of Natural Resources officers are supporting local and university law enforcement.

• Specialists from the Department of Human Services are assisting the university's mental health professionals in conducting a crisis assessment.

• Two mobile command vehicles have been deployed along with one communications trailer.

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency regional coordinator on-scene to coordinate the state's efforts at NIU.

• Mutual Aid Box Alarm System and Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System have been activated to assist in coordinating response among multiple fire and police departments. That response included 16 ambulances, two air ambulances, more than 60 fire and EMT personnel, 15 law enforcement officers and two mobile command posts, and an Illinois Transportable Emergency Communication System.

Additional information and updates are available at http://ready.illinois.gov/.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

Related AP articles in LDN:

• 7 Dead in N. Illinois U. Hall Shooting

  • A Timeline of the Shooting at NIU

  • Campus Stunned by N. Illinois Shooting

  • NIU Shooting Tests New Security Plan