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Emergency Manager
Emergency Manager
Coordinator Mary
Clohessy
The Village Office of Emergency Preparedness is responsible for coordinating all village departments and activities during times of emergency. We believe an educated population is a key ingredient to having a successful emergency management program. Throughout the year, the village receives information from various county, state and federal agencies regarding emergency preparedness. It is our hope that the residents of the village will visit this site to obtain the most up to date information available to make our community a safer place to live.
In addition to this web site, information is provided from time to time
to residents through press releases to the news media and announcements
posted on the village cable access channel. Winter Weather Safety There has not been a winter in Illinois
in recent history that has not produced a severe winter storm.
On average, Illinois experiences five severe winter storms each
year. The hazards that winter storms and extreme cold can be
catastrophic. However, your family can take actions now that
will increase your chances of surviving winter storms and
extreme cold. A few tips are as follows; Know the terms relating to
severe winter weather During the holiday season, use caution when installing
decorations. Avoid the use of multiple extension cords and do
not overload electrical outlets. Never use candles on or around
your decorations or Christmas tree. If you haven’t already done
so, change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide
alarms. Warm Weather Safety There are a number of severe weather hazards that affect
Illinois, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning,
damaging winds and hail. The Village of Evergreen Park encourages families to plan in
advance for actions to be taken in the event of severe weather.
Know the terms used to describe severe storm threats. A Severe
Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch means Severe Thunderstorms or
Tornadoes are possible in our area. Residents should remain
alert for the development of severe weather. A Severe
Thunderstorm or Tornado Warning means Severe Thunderstorms or
Tornadoes are occurring in our area. In the event of a Warning
residents should take cover immediately. The Village Emergency
Storm Warning sirens will be activated in the event a Tornado is
reported within 20 miles of the Village. When the Emergency Siren is activated residents should
immediately take cover in the lowest level of their homes. If
there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or small inner room
with no windows. Stay there until the danger has passed. A disaster of any kind may interfere with normal
supplies of food, water, heat and day to day necessities. It is
important to keep a stock of emergency supplies on hand
sufficient to meet your needs for seventy – two hours (three
days). Although you may not be directly in an area impacted by a
natural disaster or terrorist event, utilities and other
services may be affected. In an emergency, our first responders (fire, police and public
works personnel) will be focusing on treating those who are
injured or may need to be evacuated and it may take some time to
restore power or other services to you and your family. That is
why an emergency supply kit is essential so that you and your
family can take care of yourselves for a three day period of
time. It is not expected that disruptions would be that long;
however, having the necessary supplies will ensure that you are
cared for and our emergency workers can focus on those most in
need. If you are forced to remain in your home during a natural
disaster or other event, adequate supplies could help you live
through a period of danger without hardship. If you are directed
to evacuate instead of sheltering-in-place, the emergency kit
can be taken with you and used to ease the transition to a
shelter. It is advisable to update your kit regularly. You should replace
the water supply and any food that may have reached its use-by
or expiration date. An easy way to remind oneself to update your
kit is to use Daylight Savings Time. When you change your
clocks, you should change your kit. It is also a good time to
change the batteries in your home smoke detectors. An emergency supply kit should include the following: If you have pets, include the following items in your kit: Preparedness For Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Releases Introduction The terrorist attacks against our country and the
anthrax-laced letters that followed have awakened the conscience
of the general public to the realities of terrorism. The information provided on this site is not only applicable
to terrorism. Illinois is home to many chemical, biological and
manufacturing plants that store and use a large amount of
hazardous materials. It is also a nuclear state, with six
operating nuclear reactors dispersed throughout the state.
Additionally, large amounts of potentially hazardous materials
are shipped daily on highways, railroads, waterways and
pipelines. For example a train derailment in Baltimore involving
hazardous materials released harmful vapors into the air and
required an extended evacuation of part of the city. Even
household chemicals, if improperly mixed or stored can cause
dangerous releases that can spread into the community. These
events can be as or more severe that any terrorist attacks. This information is designed to give guidance on what can be
done to enhance survival in event of a nuclear, chemical or
biological release. Experts feel that individuals must be
prepared to be on their own for a minimum of three days in case
of a disaster. In any type of emergency, the chance for survival
is increased if people are prepared for the disaster and know
what actions to take. Developing a comprehensive emergency
survival plan is important for survival. Be sure to involve all
members of your family in the development of your plan. A plan
will only work if everyone knows and agrees to follow it. General Guidance There are actions you can take that will help get you ready
for, and cope with any disaster. Knowing what to do is the best
protection. Perhaps the most basic thing to remember is to keep calm. In
emergency situations, people are often needlessly injured or
killed because their actions were thoughtless and hurried.
Remaining calm may mean the difference between life and death. During the emergency, taking proper action may save your
life. Take time to think, and then act. It is best if the action
has been planned in advance, and has been practiced. Whenever a disaster strikes, it is advisable to have your
television or radio turned on in order to hear the latest
information or to receive instructions from local, state and
federal authorities. Use your phone only to report important events to emergency
officials. Emergency situations place incredible strain on
communications systems. By unnecessarily tying up the telephone
line, you may prevent others reporting serious emergencies or
hamper the ability for authorities to respond to the emergency. Knowledge of first aid and emergency medical care can save
lives and reduce suffering. All members of your family can
acquire lifesaving skills by taking a general first aid class
and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Nuclear Agents On a daily basis, humans are exposed to radiation, which is
defined as energy that can travel through the air. Some of this
radiation is naturally occurring. Traces of naturally occurring
radiation are present in food and water. Radiation is also
released from man-made sources such as X-ray machines,
televisions and microwave ovens. Another potential source of radiation is a nuclear power
plant. Illinois is the most nuclear state, with six operational
reactor sites. Nuclear plants use heat generated from nuclear
fission in a contained environment to convert water into steam
which powers generators. During a radiological emergency gaseous
effluent from a nuclear power plant may be released into the
atmosphere. Much has been made recently in the news and in the press
about a “dirty nuclear bomb”. This is not a nuclear bomb like
the ones dropped during World War II. A “dirty bomb” is a bomb
that uses conventional explosives to spread an amount of
radiation through the air. The dispersal of radioactive material
in an urban area could have serious consequences for anyone who
was contaminated with radioactive material, though depending
upon how much nuclear material was present the conventional
explosive could cause the most damage. Radiation has a cumulative effect on the human body. The
longer a person is exposed to radiation, the greater the risk of
illness or death. Precautions need to be taken if there is a
catastrophic release of radiation from a nuclear plant or a
radiological bomb. Chemical Agents Chemical agents are poisonous gases, liquids or solids that
can kill or incapacitate people and animals. Some chemicals are
odorless and tasteless, making them difficult to detect.
Chemicals present in a release can have an immediate or delayed
effect. Depending on the chemical involved, human exposure can occur
via skin, inhalation, ingestion of contaminated food and water,
or entry through other mucous lines areas, such as the eyes,
nose and open cuts. Exposure to chemical agents can be fatal. The severity of the
injuries depends on the type of and the amount of the chemical
agent used and the duration of the exposure. These are the four categories of chemical agents: In the event of a chemical attack or accidental release,
village officials may order residents to “shelter-in-place” or
evacuate. Most chemical agents are not detectable without
special equipment, so no one should venture outdoors until
appropriate notification has been given that the chemical agent
is no longer a threat. Biological Agents Biological agents are organisms or toxins that can produce
illness or death in people and animals. Agents can be released
intentionally or accidentally as airborne particles. Biological
agents can also contaminate food or water supplies. While numerous biological agents can cause havoc if released,
government officials believe that the most likely pathogens
terrorists would use would cause disease that include anthrax,
smallpox, botulism and salmonella. If government officials become aware of plans for a
biological attack, residents would most likely be told to
shelter-in place or evacuate immediately. However, accidental releases and terrorist attacks may not be
detected until after the fact. The emergency would be detected
through the public health disease surveillance system. Health
care providers and public health advisors are on constant watch
for unusual clusters of illness that are associated with the
widespread release of a biological agent. Shelter-in-Place An emergency can occur quickly and without warning. The most
important thing you can do to keep you and your family safe
during an emergency is to prepare, stay calm, and follow
instructions from emergency personnel.
In times of emergency, local officials may instruct you to
shelter-in-place. This precaution is aimed to keep you and your
family safe while remaining in your home. Instructions may be
made via the village reverse 911 system, cable TV, and radio
stations in the area or vehicle public address systems.
If you are instructed to shelter-in-place, take your children
and pets indoors immediately. Then take the following
precautions: Authorities may decide to evacuate an area for your
protection. Again, it is important to stay calm, listen
carefully and follow all instructions. Do not use your
telephone. The telephone lines will be needed for emergency
operations. |
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Village Hall is located at 9418 South
Kedzie Avenue Evergreen Park, IL 60805 Phone:
(708)422-1551 Fax: (708)422-7818 |