Emergency Management Agency

A critical element of the DHS mission is ensuring that the civil rights and civil liberties of persons are not diminished by our security efforts, activities, and programs. Consequently, the "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign respects civil rights or civil liberties by emphasizing behavior, rather than appearance, in identifying suspicious activity.

Factors such as race, ethnicity, national origin, or religious affiliation alone are not suspicious. For that reason, the public should report only suspicious behavior and situations (e.g., an unattended backpack in a public place or someone trying to break into a restricted area) rather than beliefs, thoughts, ideas, expressions, associations, or speech unrelated to terrorism or other criminal activity. Only reports that document behavior reasonably indicative of criminal activity related to terrorism will be shared with federal partners.

What are NTAS ALERTS?

After reviewing the available information, the Secretary of Homeland Security will decide, in coordination with other Federal entities, whether an NTAS Alert should be issued.

NTAS Alerts will only be issued when credible information is available.

These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an imminent threat or elevated threat. Using available information, the alerts will provide a concise summary of the potential threat, information about actions being taken to ensure public safety, and recommended steps that individuals, communities, businesses and governments can take to help prevent, mitigate or respond to the threat.

The NTAS Alerts will be based on the nature of the threat: in some cases, alerts will be sent directly to law enforcement or affected areas of the private sector, while in others, alerts will be issued more broadly to the American people through both official and media channels.

NTAS Alerts contain a sunset provision indicating a specific date when the alert expires - there will not be a constant NTAS Alert or blanket warning that there is an overarching threat. If threat information changes for an alert, the Secretary of Homeland Security may announce an updated NTAS Alert. All changes, including the announcement that cancels an NTAS Alert, will be distributed the same way as the original alert.

NTAS Alerts when issued are available for viewing from this website. Simply click on the NTAS button, located on the right.

Flooding Safety

More deaths occur due to flooding each year than from any other thunderstorm or hurricane related hazard. Many of these casualties are a result of careless or unsuspecting motorists who attempt to navigate flooded roads. The National Weather Service now warns anyone who comes to a flooded roadway, “Turn around… don’t drown!”™

Follow these safety rules:

• If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Stay away from flood-prone areas, including dips, low spots, valleys, ditches, washes, etc.
• Avoid flooded areas or those with rapid water flow. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream. It takes only six inchesof fast flowing water to sweep you off your feet.
• Don’t allow children to play near high water, storm drains or ditches. Hidden dangers could lie beneath the water.
• Flooded roads could have significant damage hidden by floodwaters. NEVER drive through floodwaters or on flooded roads. If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground. Water only two feet deep can float away most automobiles.
• Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly when threatening conditions exist.
• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
• Monitor NOAA Weather Radio or your local media for vital weather related information.

More information on flood safety is available through the National Weather Service, www.noaa.gov/floods.htm.

Will County Emergency Notification System

Will County Emergency Management Agency and Will County 9-1-1 recently implemented an improved notification system to provide emergency alerts to people living and working in Will County. This system allows police, fire, and other emergency officials to send messages for a variety of situations that may affect public safety. In addition to receiving text messages on your cell phone, the new system allows you to choose to receive voice messages delivered to your home or work phone, as well as messages sent to your email account.

There are many situations that may require sending emergency alerts, such as chemical accidents, crime alerts, missing persons, and nuclear power station accidents, to name a few. Every situation is unique, and so is the decision by local emergency officials to use this system. It supplements other systems such as outdoor warning sirens and emergency TV and radio messages.

The transition to the new system has occurred. Use of the existing system will ended on February 15, 2010. To make this transition, it will be necessary for you to take a few minutes to sign up on the new system. Please click on the 'Will County Emergency Notification System' button on your right. You will be prompted to create an account and enter the appropriate information for your cell phone and other notification methods.

A word about severe weather notifications: In the past, our existing system has been used to send general severe weather messages. In nearly all cases, these messages are issued by the National Weather Service and then re-transmitted by a local emergency dispatcher who needs to manually create and send the message. This causes significant delays in sending these messages to you. While our new system may still be used to send severe weather messages in certain situations, we discontinued sending general messages on February 15, 2010 in favor of other systems available at no cost that can send severe weather messages to you automatically. We believe this is ultimately more effective for you. While we cannot endorse any specific systems, you may wish to take advantage of severe weather alerts offered through the following services:

• The Weather Channel – www.weather.com Free weather alerts sent via text message and email for your city or ZIP Code.
• Email Network – www.emergencyemail.org Free alerts sent via text message and email for Will County.
• National Weather Service NOAA Weather Radio - http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=nwr Whether or not you receive text alerts, everyone should consider having a NOAA Weather Radio in their home or business. These inexpensive radios receive weather alerts directly from the National Weather Service without relying on text, phone, or email services that may not work in some emergencies.
• There is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect's vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help.

Our new notification system and the systems mentioned above are available to you at no cost. However, you may incur charges from your service provider in accordance with your service plan. We appreciate your interest in being informed when emergencies occur and hope you will take a few minutes to sign up on our new system.

Thank you,
Will County Emergency Management Agency
Will County 9-1-1

Will County Special Needs Registry

You've seen the logo, you've read the information, now learn more about Will County Special Needs Registry. Simply click here, and a new page describing the system will appear, scroll to the bottom to the final three bullet points, entitled 'Family Member/Independent Resident' – 'File of Life' – and – 'Seniors'. Simply click on the wording to find out even more information concerning those titles along with short videos. We hope by viewing the videos it will provide you with even more information to encourage our SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION to register today!

SUNSHINE CALLS CRISIS LINE OF WILL COUNTY

Do you have a family member, friend, neighbor who needs to be checked on daily? Do they also need to be reminded to take their medication? Did you know that Crisis Line of Will County conducts free well-being check calls and reminders to take medication calls to Senior Citizens and Special Needs Population. All done with a live, friendly voice. Help keep our senior citizens and special needs population living independently longer. Call Crisis Line of Will County at 815-722-3344 or online at www.crisisline247.org.