New Online Resource Helps Residents Prepare for Severe Weather, Climate-Related Hazards and Other Emergencies
Kane County has launched a new Emergency Preparedness Toolkit, bringing together expertise from across County government to give residents practical, easy-to-use information for preparing for emergencies and climate-related hazards. The online toolkit was developed through an interdepartmental Kane County effort, combining public health, emergency preparedness, environmental and climate resilience expertise to create one central resource for residents.
“Emergencies can happen quickly, and being prepared ahead of time can make a real difference," said Michael Isaacson, Executive Director of the Kane County Health Department. “This toolkit gives residents practical steps they can take now to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors when an emergency occurs."
Kane County can experience a wide range of hazards, including severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, extreme heat, winter weather, poor air quality and power outages. The toolkit also addresses how changing climate conditions may affect some of these hazards and supports the goals of the Kane County Climate Action Implementation Plan.
The toolkit organizes preparedness into four steps:
- Identify Possible Hazards: Learn about hazards that may affect Kane County, including extreme heat, flooding, poor air quality, severe storms, tornadoes and winter weather.
- Take Action: Create a household emergency plan, build a Go Bag, protect important documents, plan for medical needs and consider the needs of children, older adults, people with disabilities and pets.
- Stay Informed: Sign up for local emergency alerts and learn how to receive important safety information before and during an emergency.
- Share What You Learn: Help family members, friends and neighbors prepare so the entire community is better equipped to respond when emergencies occur.
The toolkit emphasizes that emergency preparedness does not need to happen all at once. Simple actions, such as signing up for emergency alerts, identifying family meeting locations, creating a communication plan or beginning an emergency supply kit, can make a meaningful difference.
The Emergency Preparedness Toolkit also includes links to additional local, state and federal resources, including emergency planning materials, family communication plans and preparedness information for households with children, older adults, pets and individuals with functional needs.
Residents are encouraged to explore the toolkit, talk with their household about emergency plans and share the information with family, friends and neighbors.
View the Kane County Emergency Preparedness Toolkit: https://www.kanehealth.com/Pages/EmergencyToolkit.aspx
