FLOOD FACTS  FLOOD PREPAREDNESS  THUNDERSTORM FACTS
THUNDERSTORM PREPARDENESS  TORNADO FACTS  TORNADO PREPARDENESS
EARTHQUAKE FACTS   EARTHQUAKE PREPARDENESS  SEVERE WEATHER LINKS

FLOOD FACTS

Flooding is the number one severe weather killer nationwide.

Nationally, 75% of the presidential disaster declarations are the result of floods.

The most dangerous type of flooding is a flash flood. Flash floods can sweep away everyone and everything in their path.

Most flash floods are caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, and occur most frequently at night, in mid to late summer.

Fourteen people in Illinois have died from flash floods since 1995. Most of the deaths occurred in vehicles.

FLOOD PREPAREDNESS

BEFORE A FLOOD

Know the terms used to describe flood threats:

Flood Watch --Flooding or flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or commercial television for additional information.

Flood Warning --Flooding is occurring or will occur soon. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Flash Flood Warning --A flash flood is occurring or is imminent. Move to higher ground immediately. Flash floods develop MUCH quicker than river floods.

Flood Statement --Minor flooding of creeks and streams, streets, low-lying areas or basement flooding is occurring or is imminent.

Learn flood-warning signs, and if used in your area, any community alert signals. Know how to shut off electricity, gas and water at main switches and valves. Know where gas pilots are located and how the heating system works. Have check valves installed in building sewer traps to prevent flood waters from backing up in sewer drains. As a last resort, use large corks or stoppers to plug showers, tubs or basins. Consider measures for flood proofing your home. Call your local building department or local emergency management agency (EMA) for information. Consider purchasing flood insurance. Flood losses are not covered under homeowner’s insurance policies. Flood insurance is available in most communities through the National Flood Insurance Program. There is usually a period before it takes effect, so don't delay. Flood insurance is available whether the building is in or out of the identified flood-prone area. Call your insurance company for more information. Insure your property and possessions. Make an inventory of your possessions using paper lists, photographs and/or videotapes of your belongings. Leave a copy with your insurance company. Update your inventory and review your coverage with your insurance company periodically. Keep all of your important records and documents in a safe deposit box or another safe place away from the premises.

DURING A FLOOD

Monitor the radio or television for the latest weather information.

Move valuable household possessions to the upper floor or move to another location if

flooding is imminent and time permits.

If instructed to do so by local authorities, turn off utilities at their source.

Listen to a battery-operated radio for evacuation instructions.

If advised to evacuate, do so quickly.

Evacuation is much simpler and safer before floodwaters become too deep for ordinary

vehicles to drive through.

Follow recommended evacuation routes. Short cuts may be blocked.

People lose their lives by attempting to drive over a flooded roadway. The speed and depth

of the water is not always obvious. There may be a hidden portion of the roadway washed

out under the water. Two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.

AFTER A FLOOD

Flood dangers do not end when the water begins to recede. Listen to a radio or television and don’t return home until authorities indicate it is safe to do so. When you are allowed to return, remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance. Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage. When entering buildings, use extreme caution. Look for fire hazards. If your home was damaged, check the utilities. Stay out of buildings that remain in the floodwaters. Avoid coming in contact with floodwaters. The water may be contaminated with oil, gasoline or raw sewage. Do not wade through a flooded stream to protect or retrieve belongings.Consider your family's health and safety. Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water if you come in contact with floodwaters. Listen for news reports to learn whether the community's water supply is safe to drink. Throw away food -- including canned goods -- that has come in contact with floodwaters. Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid structural damage. Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewer systems pose a health hazard. Stay alert for areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a vehicle. Do not let children play in or near floodwaters, flooded creeks or flood retention ponds. Stay away from downed power lines. Report them to the utility company immediately. If unaffected by the flood, stay out of the area until allowed to enter by officials. Your presence may hamper emergency operations. Monitor the radio for special information about where to go to get assistance for housing, clothing and food. Other programs are available to help you cope with the stress of the situation. Take photos or videotape the damage to your home and your belonging

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THUNDERSTORM FACTS

Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes, damaging winds, lightning, hail and heavy rain.

Thunderstorms are most likely to happen in the spring and summer.

In Illinois, severe thunderstorms frequently occur in the late afternoon or evening.

Most lightning deaths occur under or near trees, but can also occur in open fields.

There have been 25 people killed by lightning in Illinois since 1990.

In 2001, Illinois ranked second in the United States for lightning fatalities.

In 2005, large hail resulted in nearly $3 million in reported property and crop damage in Illinois, despite fewer thunderstorms due to a severe drought.

The largest hailstone to recently affect Illinois fell near the town of Hudson, in McLean County, where grapefruit sized hail (4.25” diameter) was reported on July 13, 2004.

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THUNDERSTORM PREPAREDNESS

BEFORE THUNDERSTORMS

Know the terms used to describe severe thunderstorm threats:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch --Severe thunderstorms are possible. Watch the sky and listen to the radio or television for more information. Be prepared to take shelter.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning --Severe thunderstorms are occurring. Take shelter. Turn on a battery-operated radio or television to receive warnings and severe weather statements.

Purchase a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio with a battery backup and tone-alert feature, which automatically alerts you when a Watch or Warning is issued.

Know the county(s) in which you live and work. The National Weather Service uses county names when watches, warnings and advisories are issued and broadcast. Specific Area Message Encoder(SAME) Weather Radios can be programmed to alarm only for a specific county or group of adjacent counties. Kane county SAME code is 017089.

Check the weather forecast before leaving for extended outdoor periods and postpone plans if severe weather is imminent.

Keep a list of emergency phone numbers. Teach children how and when to call 911 for emergency assistance.

Choose a friend or family member who lives out of the area for separated family members to call to report their whereabouts and condition.

Keep important documents and records in a safe deposit box or other secure location. Maintain a disaster supply kit.

DURING THUNDERSTORMS

Close all windows and doors. Draw the shades or blinds to reduce the risk from flying glass if window or door glass breaks due to high winds.

Monitor the radio or television for the latest weather information.

Avoid using the telephone or other electrical appliances until the storm passes.

Turn off air conditioners. If lightning strikes, a power surge could damage the compressor.

Delay taking baths or showers until after the storm passes.

If outdoors, seek shelter immediately. If you can hear thunder, you are probably close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.

If you are in a boat when a thunderstorm threatens, you should attempt to reach shore as quickly as possible.

If you are driving, pull safely to the shoulder away from trees and power lines. Lightning can flash from trees or power poles into a vehicle through the radio antenna. Normally, in the open, a vehicle is a safe shelter from lightning. Avoid touching metal parts of the vehicle when lightning is nearby.

If you find yourself in a position where there is no immediate shelter available, find a low spot away from trees and power poles where you can squat low to the ground. Make yourself the smallest target possible.

AFTER THUNDERSTORMS

Monitor the radio or television for emergency information or instructions.

Check for injured victims. Render first aid if necessary. Most lightning strike victims can be revived with CPR. Do not attempt to move severely injured victims unless absolutely necessary. Wait for emergency medical assistance to arrive.

Take photos of, or videotape, damage to your home or property.

Do not make unnecessary telephone calls.

If driving, be alert for hazards on the roadway.

Check on neighbors or relatives who may require special assistance.

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TORNADO FACTS

A tornado is a violent, rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.

Most tornado damage paths are less than 100 yards wide and a couple of miles long, but can be up to a mile wide and 50 miles long.

Most tornadoes occur in the spring, but records show that they have occurred in every month of the year.

In 2003, a record setting 120 tornadoes occurred in Illinois, resulting in two deaths, 81 injuries, and more than $40 million in damage. The previous record was 107 tornadoes, set in 1974.

In 2004, 80 tornadoes occurred in Illinois, resulting in 9 deaths and 23 injuries.

There were only 18 tornadoes in Illinois during 2005, with no deaths or injuries reported.

There is an average of 38 tornadoes per year in Illinois.

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TORNADO PREPAREDNESS

BEFORE A TORNADO

Know the terms used to describe tornado threats:

Tornado Watch --Tornadoes are possible. Watch the sky and listen to the radio or television for more information. Be prepared to take shelter. If you see any rotating funnel-shaped clouds, report them immediately by telephone to your local law enforcement agency. If you live in a mobile home, this is the time to move to a more substantial structure.

Tornado Warning --A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter. Turn on a battery-operated radio or television and wait for the "all clear" announcement by authorities.

Refer to the “Before” section under THUNDERSTORMS plus the following: Determine the best location in your home and office to seek shelter when threatened by a tornado. A basement or cellar will usually afford the best protection. If an underground shelter is not available, identify an interior room or hallway on the lowest level. Conduct periodic tornado safety drills with your family. Learn how to shut off the utilities to your home. Decide how and where your family will reunite.

If you live in a mobile home, identify a safe shelter outside of your mobile home such as a community park shelter, a neighbor or friend’s house, or a nearby public building. In a mobile home, consider installation of an underground shelter that is large enough to accommodate you, your family or several other nearby mobile home residents. Consider retrofitting your house with special fasteners, connectors and reinforcing bands to strengthen the structural integrity. Also, consider installing a reinforced concrete and steel “safe room” as a small room within your house, or excavated and installed beneath your garage floor.

DURING A TORNADO

Take the following actions when a Tornado Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service, when sirens have been activated, or when a tornado has been sighted near your area.

AT HOME

Go at once to your predetermined shelter (storm cellar, basement or the lowest level of the building). In a basement, go under the stairs, under a heavy piece of furniture or a workbench.

Stay there until the danger has passed.

If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a small inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.

Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.

Go to the center of the room. Outside windows and walls may be penetrated by high speed, wind-borne objects.

Get under a piece of sturdy furniture, such as a workbench or heavy table, and hold onto it.

Use pillows, mattresses or cushions to protect your head and neck.

If in a mobile home, get out and seek shelter elsewhere. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. If there isn’t a substantial shelter nearby, seek shelter in a low-lying area. Shield your head with your hands.

IN A SCHOOL, NURSING HOME, HOSPITAL,
SHOPPING CENTER, OR WORKPLACE

Go to the designated storm shelter, basement, or to an inside hallway on the lowest level. Avoid places with wide-span roofs, such as auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums and large hallways. Stay away from windows and open spaces.

Get under a piece of sturdy furniture, such as a workbench or heavy table or desk, and hold onto it. If sturdy furniture is not available, make yourself the smallest target possible. Squat low to the ground. Put your head down and cover your head and neck with your hands. If in a high-rise building, go to small, interior rooms or hallways on the lowest level possible and seek protection as detailed above. Stay away from windows and outside walls.

OUTDOORS

If possible, get inside a substantial building. If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch, culvert or low-lying area. Use your arms to protect your head and neck. Stay aware of the potential for flash flooding.

IN A VEHICLE

Never try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Heavy rain, hail and traffic may impede your movement. Tornadoes can change directions quickly and can easily lift up a vehicle and toss it through the air. Get out of the vehicle immediately and try to take shelter in a nearby building. Do NOT park under a bridge or underpass. If there isn’t time to get indoors, get out of the vehicle and lie in a ditch, culvert or low-lying area away from the vehicle

AFTER A TORNADO

Monitor the radio or television for emergency information or instructions. Check for injured victims. Render first aid if necessary. Check on neighbors or relatives who may require special assistance. Do not attempt to move severely injured victims unless absolutely necessary. Wait for emergency medical assistance to arrive. Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Exit damaged buildings. Re-enter only if absolutely necessary using great caution. Take photos of, or videotape, damage to your home or property. If driving, be alert for hazards on the roadway. If unaffected by the tornado, stay out of the damaged area until local officials allow entry. Your presence may hamper emergency operations.

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EARTHQUAKE FACTS

Earthquakes are not weather related and yes, Illinois has earthquakes.

The fault closest to Elgin is The Sandwich Fault Zone that lies just south and west of Kane County.

The New Madrid fault system, or the New Madrid seismic zone, is a series of faults beneath the continental crust in a weak spot known as the Reelfoot Rift. It cannot be seen on the surface. The fault system extends 150 miles southward from Cairo, Illinois through New Madrid and Caruthersville, Missouri, down through Blytheville, Arkansas to Marked Tree, Arkansas. It dips into Kentucky near Fulton and into Tennessee near Reelfoot Lake, and extends southeast to Dyersburg, Tennessee. It crosses five state lines, and crosses the Mississippi River in at least three places.

Earthquakes occur in Illinois about once every year. But damaging quakes are much less frequent. Minor damage from Illinois earthquakes is reported about once every 20 years. Most recently, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake shook southeastern Illinois in June 1987, causing minor damage in the Lawrenceville and Olney areas. Serious damage from earthquakes occurs every 70 to 90 years. Devastating earthquakes are very rare in the central US, occurring about once every 700 to 1200 years.

The last strong earthquake to strike the Midwest happened on Hallo-ween (October 31) 1895. The quake, centered just south of Illinois in Charleston, Missouri, had an estimated magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale. It was felt as far away as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Topeka, Kansas. Although this quake was widely felt throughout the midcontinent, it caused serious damage only in the epicentral area. No substantial buildings collapsed, no one was killed, and there were few injuries.

The likelihood of a damaging earthquake (magnitude 6.3 or greater) occurring somewhere in the central US within the next 15 years is 40 to 63% and 86 to 97 % within the next 50 years. An earthquake of this size would cause damage to older structures, especially those of masonry construction. There could be serious damage to many schools in the region.

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EARTHQUAKE PREPARDNESS

MAINTAIN EMERGENCY SUPPLYS

Survival

Water (1 gallon per person per day)
First aid kit (freshly stocked)
Food (canned or packaged that will not spoil, including items for special diets and comfort food such as candy, nuts or raisins)
Can opener (non-electric)
Blankets or sleeping bags
Portable radio, flashlight and extra batteries
Essential medications and glasses
Fire extinguisher A-B-C type
Food and water for pets
Money (small bills)

Sanitation Supplies

Large plastic trash bags for trash and waste
Large trash cans
Bar soap and liquid detergent
Shampoo
Deodorant
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Feminine hygiene supplies
Infant supplies
Toilet paper
Household bleach
Newspaper to wrap garbage and waste

Safety and Comfort

Sturdy shoes
Heavy gloves for clearing debris
Change of clothing
Tent

Cooking

Barbecue, camp stove or chafing dish (include matches)
Fuel for cooking (charcoal, camp stove fuel, etc.)
Plastic knives, forks and spoons
Paper plates and cups
Paper towels
Heavy-duty aluminum foil

Tools and Supplies

Knife
Axe and shovel
Crescent wrench for turning off gas
Rope, ½"
Garden hose for siphoning and fire fighting
Plastic tape and sheeting
Toys, games and books for children
Pencil and paper

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SEVERE WEATHER LINKS

Storm Prediction Center
Severe Weather Awareness
Illinois Emergency Management Agency

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