Latest news with #IEMA
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How to beat the heat: Tips from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The temperature is rising in Central Illinois this week, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is issuing guidance on how to beat the heat and stay cool. Officials said on Facebook that heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the U.S. Hundreds of people die each year, and anyone can be overcome by heat-related injuries — heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. More than 700 people died from the heat in Chicago 30 years ago. Groups vulnerable to heat-related injuries include young children, infants, older adults, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women. WEATHER NOW: Severe weather and bigtime heat in the forecast over the next several days To avoid heat-related illness, officials advised the following: Stay well-hydrated but avoid alcohol, sugary beverages and caffeinated drinks Consume at least 1.5 to 2 quarts of fluids daily Wear loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing Closely monitor children, the elderly and those with special needs Do not leave children and pets in a closed vehicle, even for short periods of time If outside, stay in the shade or under awnings as much as possible Keep the lights in homes low or off, keep shades drawn and avoid using the oven Keep rooms well ventilated with air conditioners or fans Keep windows open if there is no air conditioning Take periodic baths or showers, and use wet towels to cool off Use air conditioning for a few hours a day Visit public cooling centers, public pools and air-conditioned stores and malls Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Urbana pool manager offers tips to stay safe amid high temperatures
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — With the extreme heat wave Central Illinois is experiencing, people are flocking to pools like Urbana's Crystal Lake Park Aquatic Center. The pool had almost 1,000 visitors Saturday, and is offering tips to stay safe during high heat and UV days: How to beat the heat: Tips from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Apply sunscreen on the hour every hour to avoid getting sunburnt. Drink water as often as you can to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Don't run at the pool or dive in the shallow end. The facility's manager, Max Katz, also offers guidance for families with young children or seniors. 'So with our little ones, we definitely say supervision is key,' Katz said. 'Keeping an eye on your little ones if you have them with you. Keeping them close by as well and at an arm's distance. And then for those older ones, just knowing your limits and making sure that you're staying on top of yourself; not getting too dehydrated or overheated in any way.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal funding freeze trickles down to local EMA operations
EFFINGHAM — The effects of the Trump administration's federal funding freeze have trickled down to local emergency management operations and left future funding uncertain. Effingham County Board Chairman Josh Douthit told the Tax and Finance Committee Thursday that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has paused funding for federal pass-through grants. According to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, over $200 million in federal grants to IEMA have been frozen that support disaster preparedness and recovery programs. As a result, the grants the county receives – Hazardous Materials Emergency Planner and Emergency Management Performance Grant — were paused, according to Douthit. The HMEP grant helps fund the position of a planner in the county. It is a new three-year grant that started in October 2022 and expires at the end of September. The grant, which amounts to $75,000 over three years, covers 80% of the costs of a planner, while the county pays for 20%. As the county's HMEP, Jim Niemann's duties are to develop, improve, and carry out emergency plans, as well as prevention and education, involving hazardous materials transportation on rails and roadways. The grant is funded by fees collected from shippers and carriers of hazardous materials, and the funds are administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The money is sent to IEMA, which then distributes it. The EMPG provides federal funds to states to assist local governments in preparing for all hazards. The grant funds 50% of the cost of the EMS coordinator position, including salary, office supplies and vehicle usage, and helps offset the cost of the state-mandated position. The county submitted in January its reimbursement request for the HMEP grant for Oct. 1-Dec. 31 of last year and is waiting for that check. If the county doesn't receive the money, it would have a deficit of $20,000. The county also has not received EMPG funding yet, which amounts to $17,981. In the worst-case scenario, Douthit said the county will have $37,981 in lost revenue if the remaining grant monies for the fiscal year don't come through. However, he noted Effingham County Treasurer Deborah Ruholl is confident the county can absorb the loss this fiscal year. 'I'm in favor of continuing services as is, in hopes the federal administration will realize that our EMA stuff is important and will re-initiate those grants and will pay those out,' said Douthit. 'We're getting ready to go into storm season here, so if we have some sort of disaster, we'll need them as much as we can. So, it kind of stinks that there's some restructuring at the federal level, and it has trickled down, and we are seeing those effects.' Committee Chairman Norbert Soltwedel stressed that Niemann and EMA Coordinator Pamela Jacobs will continue to get paid because that money is budgeted. 'What's at stake here is whether the federal government gives us money to help pay those bills we've obligated ourselves to pay. I would agree with Josh. We need to continue with the good faith that it will be funded,' he said. If the HMEP grant is cut completely, Douthit said they can reevaluate at the end of the year what they want to do. 'I don't want to lose his expertise out there and his knowledge,' he said, referring to Niemann. 'What he's doing is very important to the rest of the county,' added Soltwedel. 'As Pam explained to me, if an entity in the county wants to get money and get a grant, they have to have this hazardous materials evaluation that Jim is working on. Without that, they can't get the grant.' The city of Effingham also receives federal pass-through funds through IEMA. The city received the funds anticipated for this year, $15,982. Like the county, city officials are unsure what to expect going forward. Still, the city is budgeting about the same amount from IEMA for the next fiscal year. 'If the funds do not come through for the city next fiscal year, we will consult with the council and make decisions as to how to move forward,' said City Administrator Steve Miller, who added the city typically budgets contingency funds in the event of such unknowns. However, he said the short-term fix will then need to be further evaluated to sustain long-term operations. 'The city's EMA services are a very important part of our operations and our ability to serve our community,' he said.
Chicago Tribune
07-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
State disaster response director one of two top officials leaving this month
A state official who played a key role in responses to disasters including the COVID-19 pandemic and the influx of asylum-seekers bused from the southern U.S. border is leaving her post, according to Gov. JB Pritzker's office. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, was one of two departures announced by the governor Friday. Also stepping down is Sanjay Gupta, secretary of the Department of Innovation & Technology. Both officials will leave their positions later this month, Pritzker's office said. Tate-Nadeau started as director of IEMA and OHS in 2019, Pritzker's first year in office, after more than three decades with the Illinois National Guard. She completed her military service there as its assistant adjutant general. In 2023, the Chicago Sun-Times reported an executive assistant billed IEMA over $240,000 between February and August of that year for contracting work, which was double Tate-Nadeau's salary. The official who approved paying the assistant and other contractors billing IEMA was among at least four staffers that year who were forced to leave the agency for 'misconduct,' 'poor performance' and 'conduct unbecoming,' the Sun-Times reported. During a legislative hearing the following year, Tate-Nadeau told lawmakers the contractor working as an executive assistant had been filling it for Tate-Nadeau's regular assistant who was on leave, the Sun-Times reported. Beginning April 1, Adnan Khayyat will serve as interim director of IEMA and OHS. He's been with the two entities for over 26 years, and most recently was Tate-Nadeau's acting chief of staff. Gupta was appointed as secretary for the Department of Innovation & Technology in 2023. He previously held roles of chief information officer and chief technology officer for the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Small Business Administration, respectively. He also was involved in management and consulting for global technology organizations. Taking over from Gupta as interim secretary beginning March 21 will be Brandon Ragle, the agency's deputy secretary.
