Parents encouraged to include emergency preparedness in
back-to-school plans
August is School and Campus Preparedness
Month in Illinois
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[August 18, 2015]
SPRINGFIELD
– As parents prepare to send their children back to school or
college, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local
emergency management agencies throughout Illinois are encouraging
them to include emergency preparedness in their back-to-school
plans.
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“Disasters can happen anytime of the day, even when children are
in school or daycare,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “Take a
few minutes to find out how your child’s school will handle
emergencies and talk to your child about how your family will
communicate after a disaster.”
Joseph offered several back-to-school planning tips for parents of
school-aged children, including:
- Know your child’s school or day care emergency plan.
- Find out where children will be taken in the event of an
evacuation during school hours.
- Ensure your current emergency contact information is on file
at your child’s school.
- Pre-authorize a friend or relative to pick up your children
in an emergency and make sure the school knows who that
designated person is.
- Teach children with cell phones about ‘Text First, Talk
Later.’ Short, simple text messages, such as “R U OK?” and “I’m
OK,” are more likely to get through than a phone call if phone
service is disrupted following an emergency. As phone congestion
eases, you can follow up with a phone call to relay more
information.
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Many college campuses offer email and text messages to alert students of
potential dangers, such as severe weather and other threats. Encourage your
college student to sign-up for such alerts. Some colleges also provide alert
messages for parents so they also are aware of potential dangers on campus. In
addition, make sure your student knows the emergency plans for their dorm or
apartment building.
Additional preparedness information is available on the Ready Illinois website
at www.Ready. Illinois.gov.
[Illinois Emergency Management
Agency] |