Logan County EMA briefing: City of Lincoln is prepared for a fire emergency, District 27 schools will be in session on Tuesday

 

[November 26, 2018] 

LINCOLN 

On Monday morning the Logan County Emergency Management Agency hosted a meeting made up of public officials, emergency service personnel, local school officials, members of the Logan County Department of Public Health, and other parties including a representative from Illinois American Water, to discuss the water situation in Lincoln.

Media was not invited to attend that meeting, but did have a briefing afterward and a time for questions and answers.

Lincoln Fire Chief Mark Miller and Lincoln Elementary Schools District 27 Superintendent Kent Froebe spoke at the briefing.

Miller explained what had happened at the Illinois American Water south treatment plant and how it had impacted the city. He said that emergency protocol had been put into place and the fire department had utilized Lincoln Lakes to provide water to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Ardagh Glass Factory until Illinois American was able to resolve water problems for those two large water consumption entities.

He said that local rural fire departments were on standby with tankers filled with water should a major fire event happen in Lincoln and that the city department has 10,000 gallons of water on hand that would provide a good start to fighting any fire that should arise.

Miller said that some of the big concerns now are that residents should continue to boil water and that they should continue to conserve water where possible. He also noted that it is safe to shower, but that water used for dishwashing should probably be boiled before use.

Superintendent Kent Froebe said that District 27 Schools will be in session on Tuesday. Illinois American Water will provide two bottles of water for every student in each of the schools in the city. At District 27 Schools, Froebe said that breakfast and lunch will be served utilizing all disposable products so there will be no dishwashing.

The water pressure has been restored to a level that toilets will flush in the schools, so sanitary concerns that were present on Monday morning have been resolved.

Miller said that while pressure is being restored, it must be done gradually to prevent damage to underground water lines. Once water pressure is fully restored, sampling of the water will have to be done and it will take about 18 hours for the test results to come back. Therefore, residents should expect the boil order to continue into at least Wednesday.

Lincoln Mayor Seth Goodman said that he understands this has been an inconvenience for Lincoln residents and businesses and he asks that everyone continue to be patient.

EMA Director Dan Fulscher said that Illinois American Water has been great to work with through this bad time, and that he knows the company is working as quickly as possible to get everything back to normal for Lincoln.

LDN will have further details from the briefing in a more complete story on Tuesday.

[Nila Smith]

Post Script:

Since the Monday morning meeting Lincoln District 27 Schools have re-evaluated their situation and decided NOT to hold classes on Tuesday. Lincoln Community High School has also announced it will be closed on Tuesday.