Officials urge severe weather preparedness ahead of spring in IL

Simmy Wood
·4 min read

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Tornadoes, flooding, and hail — oh my! As spring weather slowly but surely begins to creep in, officials across Illinois are encouraging families to gear up for severe weather in this upcoming season.

March 4 – 8 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week — part of what the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is recognizing as Severe Weather Preparedness Month. They, along with the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), are sharing tips and resources ahead of harsh weather.

WCIA 3 Severe Weather Center

“From flash flooding to tornadoes, Illinoisans should be prepared for severe weather,” IEMA-OHS Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau said. “This week alone, Illinois saw 11 tornadoes and hail in parts of the state with unseasonably warm temperatures and the potential for flooding.”

Officials with the CCEMA said Illinois had 121 tornadoes in 2023 — the most of any U.S. state last year. 54 injuries and four deaths occurred as a result of these tornadoes, on top of millions of dollars in damage.

In the wake of the June 29, 2023 storms — which included baseball-sized hail and 80 miles-per-hour winds — the CCEMA updated their warning siren protocols for the Champaign-Urbana Metro Area. These storms were marked as “destructive” by the NWS.

As of 2024, sirens in the area will now be activated for all thunderstorm warnings with this description. A Wireless Emergency Alert will also be activated on local smartphones. This affects Champaign, Urbana, the University of Illinois, and Savoy. Other county areas with similar protocol updates include Fisher, Tolono, Sidney, and Pesotum.

90-acre field fire extinguished by McLean Co. fire crews, community

Flooding can also wreak havoc on homes and cities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says flooding is the most common natural hazard in the country. In 2023, two Presidential Disaster Declarations were given to Illinois for severe weather and flooding that totaled over $462 million in damages.

How you can prepare for severe weather

Officials say that is is important to stay informed and monitor severe weather through more than one channel. For example, storm sirens are not designed to be heard indoors by everyone. If this is your only method of receiving severe storm information, you might not be alerted. But if you are also notified via a weather alert/local radio and smartphone app, it is more likely you will be informed of an oncoming storm.

The WCIA 3 Weather Team has several ways you can keep up with weather in Central Illinois. You can:

WCIA 3 Weather NOW Forecast

In addition to this, the NWS and IEMA-OHS shared some tips to help prepare for severe weather:

  1. Have a plan: In case of an emergency, designate places to seek safe shelter. While away from home, know the names of the locations you are visiting, especially county and city names. Pick two places to meet in case you are separated from those around you.

  2. Have an emergency supply kit: Gather supplies that can last last you at least three days. If the electricity goes out or your family needs to evacuate, having a “go bag” will relieve some of the stress. Generators should only be run outside — never indoors or in enclosed spaces. A basic emergency supply kit includes:

    • Bottled water

    • Non-perishable food

    • Flashlights and extra batteries

    • Extra clothing and blankets

    • An extra set of keys and cash

    • Medications and a first aid kit

    • Personal hygiene items

    • Pet supplies

    • A weather alert radio or portable AM/FM radio

  3. Prepare your home: Be proactive, not reactive to severe weather. Ensure that you and your home are ready to withstand it. This can be done through:

    • Training. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher, how to administer CPR, and how to shut off electricity, gas, and water.

    • Inspection. Inspect your home for potential hazards such as weakened trees or limbs, cracked windows, or worn roofing.

    • Storm proofing. When you build a new structure or renovate an existing one, there are ways to prevent wind damage to roofs, upper floors, and garages. Consider reinforcement of structural elements, such as rafters, trusses, walls, and doors.

    • Protecting all important records. Keep important documents in a secure waterproof container.

    • Keeping inventory. Make a list or use photos/videos to keep track of your possessions.

    • Insurance. Insure your property and possessions. Events like flooding can cause $25,000 of home damage from just 1 inch of water. State officials encourage flood insurance coverage, especially for those in National Flood Insurance Program communities. As spring and summer floods will arrive soon, they say the time is now to get protected. The NFIP policy has a 30-day waiting period.

For more information about severe weather and how to deal with it, visit ready.illinois.gov. For a more local perspective, visit the WCIA 3 Severe Weather Center, Lincoln NWS at weather.gov/ilx/, or follow the Champaign County EMA on Facebook and X.

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