IEMA urges people to prepare for severe weather
Tornadoes, floods and severe storms can happen any
time of year
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[March 26, 2015]
SPRINGFIELD – Believe it or not, warm
weather soon will return to Illinois. As exciting as that sounds,
warmer temperatures also mean an increased potential for severe
thunderstorms, tornadoes and flooding. |
To help people prepare for severe weather, the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency (IEMA) will join with the National Weather Service
(NWS) and local emergency management agencies throughout March to
increase awareness of these severe weather hazards.
“We can’t prevent dangerous storms from occurring,” said IEMA
Director James K. Joseph. “However, there are ways to prepare to
help you stay safe when severe weather strikes. We encourage
everyone to learn more about severe weather hazards, identify a safe
place to go during storms, and assemble and maintain an emergency
supply kit. These actions could help save your life or the life of
your loved ones.”
Joseph said Illinois experienced 48 tornadoes in 2014, which
resulted in two injuries and nearly $5 million in damage to homes
and crops. In 2013, the state saw 54 tornadoes, including 25
twisters on Nov. 17, a vivid reminder that tornadoes and severe
storms can happen anytime of the year.
“Although the typical peak time for severe storms in Illinois is
April through June, events of the past three years have proven
otherwise.” said Chris Miller, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
with the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Ill. “Nearly half of
all tornadoes in Illinois since January 2012 have occurred during
the fall and winter months. This underscores just how important it
is to be ‘Weather Ready’ all year in Illinois.”
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IEMA and the NWS developed a Severe Weather Preparedness
Guide, which provides information about tornadoes, severe
storms, lightning and flooding along with recommended actions to
take before, during and after each of these weather events. It
is available on the Ready Illinois website at
www.Ready.Illinois.gov
or by calling (217) 785-9925.
[Illinois Emergency Management
Agency]
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