|
"Many people are still struggling to cope with the aftermath of this
week's winter storm," Blagojevich said. "Today, I sent Illinois
National Guard troops to East St. Louis to check on people in
neighborhoods hit hard by the storm to make sure they have what they
need to get by. Illinois National Guard members will also check the
status of interstate highways from I-80 down to I-70 to check for
stranded motorists and make sure they're safe for travel." Working
with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois National
Guard is providing approximately 100 Army National Guard soldiers in
East St. Louis to assist the city. The Illinois Army Guardsmen will
conduct house-to-house checks in East St. Louis neighborhoods to
distribute important emergency information to households and
transport people to a warming shelter if needed. The Illinois
Guardsmen will also gather information in the affected neighborhoods
regarding status of services, blocked streets or intersections,
trapped vehicles, and other information that would be helpful to
police, fire and other city emergency departments.
The Illinois National Guard is providing additional soldiers and
several aircraft to assess highway corridor conditions along I-74
between 1-80 and I-57, along I-80 between I-74 and I-57, and along
I-57 from I-80 south to I-70. The Illinois citizen soldiers will
assess the number of disabled vehicles and stranded motorists along
the highways and at rest areas so that the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency, Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of
Transportation and other state emergency response agencies can
respond to people hardest hit by the storm.
"Even before the storms hit, Illinois National Guard began
actively working with IEMA in order to assess potential impacts
across the state and began developing a coordinated and coherent
response to the developing weather situation." said Maj. Gen. Randal
Thomas, adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. "We were
also able to leverage Illinois Army National Guard soldiers already
in a federal status performing their monthly unit training to
provide emergency assistance to the people of East St. Louis and to
assess highway conditions along key interstate corridors around the
state. The Illinois National Guard has a 'no-fail' contract with the
citizens of Illinois. Our response in support of IEMA reflects our
dedication to the safety of the people our great state."
As of Saturday afternoon, more than 222,000 homes remained
without electricity, down from more than 250,000 on Friday.
[to top of second column] |
 On Nov. 28, before the storm, the Illinois Emergency Management
Agency began preparing for possible activation of the State
Emergency Operations Center by reaching out to state agency liaisons
and gathering pre-event information on available assets and response
capabilities. The emergency center has been activated since Thursday
evening to monitor the storm conditions and work with local
officials on any state assistance needed. The center will remain
activated as long as necessary. To date the state has assisted in
several ways, including:
-
More than 120 cots
from the Illinois National Guard and 600 meals were delivered by
staff from the Department of Central Management Services to four
shelters in St. Clair County.
-
Using an Illinois
National Guard Black Hawk helicopter, an Illinois Department of
Transportation truck, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
snowmobiles and an Illinois State Police four-wheel drive
vehicle, 200 meals were delivered to stranded travelers at a
rest area along I-80 near Princeton on Friday evening, and
another 200 were delivered to stranded motorists at a rest area
east of Galesburg. In addition, Department of Transportation
Aeronautics provided disaster intelligence to the State
Emergency Operations Center via a department helicopter flying
above the rest stop.
-
The Illinois
National Guard will use equipment and personnel to assist with
moving a small passenger jet at the Peoria Airport after the jet
broke down, blocking the gate area.
-
To date, more than
1,700 Department of Transportation trucks have plowed more than
275,000 miles along Illinois interstates and highways.
-
More than 325
people sought a warm place to spend the night at shelters
established by the American Red Cross in nine communities.
-
The State
Emergency Operations Center is coordinating with local emergency
management officials on assistance needed in their communities,
including help with removal of branches and trees downed by ice,
heavy snow and strong winds.
[News release from the governor's office] |
