February 1, 2022 – A major winter storm is poised to move into Macon County and the City of Decatur. Key City and County Departments continue to prepare and stand ready.
Officials from the Emergency Operations Center remind residents to take the following precautions:
· If you lose power, call Ameren at 1-800 -755- 5000. Call this number even if you think your neighbor has called.
· Do not touch or move any downed line. Assume all downed lines are energized, dangerous and life threatening. Call Ameren to report downed lines.
· Residents are advised to avoid travel unless it is absolutely necessary, and to have adequate supplies of food, medicines and other necessities on hand prior to the beginning of the heaviest storm activity. Motorists who must travel should also use extreme caution. Frigid temperatures and expected snowfall can create dangerous driving conditions that can include ice patches and blowing and drifting snow.
· Check on vulnerable neighbors especially if elderly or disabled.
· If any family member has a medical condition that requires use of electricity, make arrangements to have that person’s special needs met.
· Check on your animals and ensure their access to food, water and shelter is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles. If possible, bring them indoors.
· Charge your cell phones.
· Make sure you have working batteries in your radios and flashlights.
· If you have a generator check that it is connected correctly before use.
· Portable heaters should be used with extreme caution.
· Don’t cook or heat inside with charcoal or gas grills as this could put you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
· If the City of Decatur declares a snow emergency, cars must be removed from snow routes within six hours. These snow route streets are marked with red and white winter “no parking” signs.
· Visit the following websites for additional information: · www.gettingaroundillinois.com · www.outagemap.ameren.com
Things to remember about traveling in a Snow Storm:
YOU are the help until help arrives!
· If authorities (NWS, local authorities) advises to stay home & off of the roads…DO that! · IDOT Road Conditions www.gettingaroundillinois.com
· If you must travel:
· Fuel up
· Tell someone when you are leaving and…
o Where you are going
o What route you are taking
o When you expect to arrive
· If you get stranded in your vehicle
o Do NOT abandon your vehicle, stay inside of it
o Notify authorities on cell phone
§ If your battery is low, send a text as it uses less power
o Make yourself visible to rescuers (tie something bright colored onto the antenna or out of a window
o Clear the exhaust pipe regularly
o Use gas sparingly, run the engine in short intervals
o Keep warm using the clothes & blankets in your Emergency Kit
· Have an emergency kit in your vehicle:
Make sure it includes these basics
o Blankets,
o gloves
o hats
o hand warmers
o nonperishable food
o water
o flashlight
o ice scraper/brush
o first aid kit
o Charge your cell phone & have a charger in the vehicle
You may be stuck there a while before help can arrive.
