Prepared 9/1999
| THE MISSION OF THE MOKENA ESDA
| EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS | WARNING
SIRENS |
| BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES | WHEN
DISASTER STRIKES | TORNADO DO YOU KNOW
WHAT TO DO |
| Y2K: THE MILLENNIUM BUG
| RECOVERING FROM DISASTER | FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
MAYOR'S MESSAGE
Dear Resident,
Whether you are a life-long Resident of Mokena or you have just moved
to the area, you have no doubt decided to
live here for the many advantages offered by our community.
The small town atmosphere, excellent schools,
proximity to your place of employment, and overall quality of life
make Mokena a nice place to live.
Despite the advantages of living in Mokena, it would be imprudent
for us to think we are immune from the effects of
a disaster striking our Community. One only needs to watch the news
to see that disasters of all kinds strike
Communities across the United States nearly every day.
If a disaster were to strike, Mokena's emergency crews would respond
to preserve life and protect property. However,
it is the actions that individuals and families take to prepare
themselves to survive a disaster that make the
difference. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your
responsibility.
This handbook was initially developed and circulated in 1994 to provide
Mokena's residents with basic information to
help in preparing before a disaster happens. Since the handbook
received such favorable comments from
Residents at that time, we felt an additional distribution of this
modified version would be equally useful to Mokena
Residents.
Should you have any questions regarding ESDA please call the Village Hall at (708) 479-3900.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Chiszar
Village President
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THE MISSION
OF THE MOKENA EMERGENCY SERVICES &
DISASTER AGENCY
Originally created during the 1950's as the Mokena Civil Defense Agency,
Mokena Emergency Services & Disaster
Agency (ESDA) is an all volunteer department of the Village. It is
charged with spearheading the efforts of the Village
in disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, and for
providing a wide variety of unique and
supplemental emergency services.
Mokena ESDA volunteers perform a number of functions, including:
* Emergency planning and preparation
* Emergency communications
* Development and maintenance of the Village's
warning siren system
* Severe weather monitoring
* Search and rescue
* Traffic direction
* Emergency lighting and power
... and many other responsibilities!
Perhaps you have seen ESDA personnel directing traffic at an emergency
scene or providing assistance at
Community events. Regardless of the time of day, ESDA personnel are
on call to assist at a moment's notice.
When they are not actually performing their duties, ESDA volunteers
are attending training and maintaining
equipment in a state of readiness.
Membership in Mokena ESDA is open to eligible individuals over age 21.
If you think you might be interested in
becoming a part of ESDA, give our agency a call at (708) 479-3922.
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In Mokena, the number to call for police, fire, or medical emergencies is:
9-1-1
When you call, be sure to:
* Give your name, telephone number, and the
location of the emergency.
* Describe the emergency and what type of
help is needed.
* Follow the instruction given by the dispatcher.
* Stay on the line until the dispatcher says
you may hang up. In some instances, the dispatcher may
ask you to remain on the line until emergency
responders arrive.
* If possible, watch for the emergency crews
and help them to locate you. Wait for them outside, flash
your outside lights on and off as they approach.
Remember, 9-1-1 is for emergencies only. For non-emergency situations use the following numbers:
Police: (708) 479-3911
Fire & Ambulance: (708) 479-2121
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IN MOKENA |
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The Village of Mokena has installed several outdoor warning sirens throughout
the Village for use during impending
emergencies. They are the quickest, most effective means for helping
to warn of emergency situations affecting a
large part of the Village. However, they are of little value to you
if you do not know what the siren signals mean and
do not know how to respond.
Mokena utilizes two different signals for emergency situations:
3 MINUTE STEADY BLAST - This is used as an attention signal, most often
to warn of an approaching
funnel cloud or tornado. However, it may also be used for other emergencies,
such as a chemical spill.
3 MINUTE UP-AND-DOWN BLAST - In accordance with Federal guidelines,
this signal is used strictly in
case of a national emergency. It has no other meaning and will be used
for no other purpose.
To ensure that the sirens are working properly, the siren system is
tested on the first Tuesday of each month at
10:00 a.m.
When you hear a siren signal you should be prepared to respond immediately.
The warning time given, by the sirens
may provide several minutes advance warning, or only a few seconds!
DO NOT CALL 9-1-1 TO FIND OUT WHY
THE SIRENS ARE SOUNDING. Doing so wastes valuable time and overloads
the emergency lines. Call 9-1-1 only if
there is an emergency where you are.
Upon hearing either of these signals, you should do the following:
PROCEED TO YOUR
BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
LEVEL OF YOUR
HOME. This is your best shelter for many types of emergencies,
including a
tornado.
TURN ON YOUR
RADIO AND LISTEN FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION. During severe
storms, you
can find information provided by the National Weather Service on
nearly every
radio station in our area. For local emergencies such as a chemical
accident, Village
officials will release emergency instructions and information on
WJOL 1340 AM
and WLLI, 96.7 FM. Listen to and follow the instructions given
on the radio.
There is no "All Clear" signal issued after an emergency situation.
Listen to your radio to determine when it is safe to
resume your regular activities.
Besides sirens, there are other ways that you may receive warnings and
emergency instructions. This may include
cable television, telephone notification, and mobile public address.
Be alert for warnings from these sources and be
prepared to respond.
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There is much that you can do beforehand to improve your safety and
comfort when a disaster strikes.
Use the following checklist to help your prepare:
1. Create an emergency plan for you and your family. Your plan should include:
* Discussing what types of disasters can happen
and what to do in each case.
* Picking two places for your family to meet:
a, Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire.
b. Outside your
neighborhood in case you cannot return home. Showing
responsible
family members how and when to shut off gas, water, and
electricity.
* Posting emergency telephone numbers. Teach
children how and when to call 9-1-1.
* Taking an approved first aid and CPR classes
* Determining the best escape routes from
your home. Plan at least two ways out of each
room.
* Finding the best place in your home in case
of a tornado.
* Practicing and maintaining your plan. Quiz
your children and conduct a fire evacuation drill
every six months.
* Test your smoke detectors monthly,
and change the batteries at least twice a year.
2. Assemble a disaster supplies kit, including:
* A three-day supply of water (one gallon per
person per day) and food that won't spoil.
* A blanket or sleeping bag and one change
of clothing per person.
* A first aid kit including your prescription
medications and an extra pair of glasses.
* Emergency equipment including a battery powered radio,
flashlight, spare batteries, a wrench for turning off utilities, a shovel,
and work gloves.
* An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler's checks.
* Sanitation supplies.
* Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
* Copies of important documents and personal
records., Be sure to store them in a waterproof
container.
3. Prepare your home for disaster:
* Conduct a "hazard hunt" to find items which
may be dangerous (flammables, electrical
hazards, loose objects, etc.).
* Check to make sure your have proper insurance coverage.
* Install smoke detectors on each level of your home-.
* Make a home inventory for insurance purposes.
If you have a video camera, you can even
make a "video inventory" of each room. Be
sure to record serial numbers where applicable.
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Whether it is a tornado, fire, accident, or chemical spill, your quick
and responsible actions can make the difference
between life and death for you and your family.
DO....
* Account for your family members and, check for injuries. Give first
al 'd and get help for seriously injured people.
* Check for fires, downed wires, and other hazards. Keep yourself and
others away from all hazards.
* Use flashlights. Do not light matches or turn on electrical switches
if you suspect a gas leak.
* Check on your neighbors.
* Confine or secure your pets.
* Evacuate if told to do so. Follow designated routes and obey traffic,
officers.
* Stay tuned to the radio for news, weather information and official
instructions. (Mokena's official emergency radio stations are WJOL, 1340
AM and WLLI, 96.7 FM.)
* Secure your home. Lock the doors and windows. Turnoff utilities that
are hazards. Secure objects that may cause injury or damage such.
as
broken boards and nails.
DON'T....
* Use the telephone unless for an emergency. Leave phone lines open
for emergency calls.
* Touch downed power lines. When in doubt, assume that power lines
are live.
* Spread rumors. Rely on information from official sources.
* Go sightseeing. Cooperate with local officials and stay away from
disaster areas.
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TORNADO DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?
Of all the potential disasters we face, a tornado can be the most devastating,
and can strike with the least warning.
You must be ready to act in seconds to protect yourself and your family.
TORNADO WATCH: A tornado watch means that weather conditions are favorable
for the development of tornadoes.
This should be a signal to you to keep an eye on the sky and pay attention
to weather reports. You should also
move your cars inside your garage to avoid storm damage. Keep your
car and house keys with you and, account for
family members at home.
TORNADO WARNING: This means that a tornado or funnel cloud has been
sighted or detected by radar in the area.
A tornado warning may also be accompanied by the sounding of the warning
sirens. These are your signals to seek
immediate shelter and turn on your radio.
What is your best shelter? Whether at home, work, or school, your best
available shelter is in a basement under a
sturdy piece of furniture, like a table. If no basement is available,
then go to a small interior room on the lowest floor.
Avoid large windows, outside walls, and large, free-span rooms such
as auditoriums and gymnasiums.
If you are outside, seek shelter indoors if time permits. I not, go
to a ditch or culvert and lie down. Watch for flash
flooding! Do not seek shelter under trees, which may be struck by lightning.
If you are in a car, abandon it immediately and seek better shelter.
Tornadoes have been clocked at forward speeds
of 70 miles per hour, so don't try to outrun it!
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Much has been made of the potential for problems as a result of computers
malfunctioning when the date changes
to Jan 1st, 2000, often referred to as the Y2K bug. For several years
government agencies, utilities, businesses, and
others have been spending a lot of time and money to identify and correct
problems that may occur.
Because of the unique nature of the Y2K bug, no one can accurately predict
whether significant problems will occur,
although serious disruptions seem less likely as more steps are taken
each day to eliminate Y2K problems. But
being prepared in case of Y2K disruptions is a reasonable step you
can take. Your efforts to be prepared in case of
Y2K disruption will not be wasted, since these same preparations can
help you in the event of any other type of
emergency.
Your best course of action is to take the steps to prepare for emergencies
that are mentioned elsewhere in this
handbook. You can also take additional steps just prior to January
1, 2000 that may help you be better prepared for
disruptions that are unique to the Y2K bug. These extra steps include:
* Obtain year-end financial statements such as bank balances so you
can resolve discrepancies that may arise.
* Fill your prescriptions in case of a problem with your prescription
records.
* Make sure your car's fuel tank is full.
* Have a small supply of cash on hand in case of disruptions with your
charge cards, ATM cards, etc.
* Be sure you know the location of the police station or fire station
nearest to you in case you are unable to reach
emergency help over the phone.
In order to analyze the Village Of Mokena's compliance with Y2K issues,
during the Spring of 1999 the Village
conducted an inventory of it's equipment and systems to determine their
Y2K compliance. The Village of Mokena's
approach divided Y2K issues into three categories.
*Mission Critical Areas, such as the provision of drinking water and
wastewater treatment; emergency
communications, the operation of traffic signals and street lights
and the availability of electricity, natural gas and
telecommunication utilities.
*Emergency Preparedness, such as coordination with other agencies and
the education of Residents.
*Core Administrative Services such as internal computer and telephone
systems utilized to conduct day to day
business.
As a result of this inventory, it was discovered that the Village's
drinking water and wastewater treatment systems
were Year 2000 compliant, as were traffic signal and street light systems
located within the Village. Village hall and
Police Department telephone systems were also found to be Y2K compliant,
as was the Police Departments local
2-way radio communication system.
During the inventory it was discovered that the Village's Administrative
Computer System was not Y2K compliant.
This matter was remedied during the summer of 1999 through software
upgrades and the purchase of a number of
pieces of Y2K compliant hardware. The Police Departments internal records
management system was replaced with
Y2K compliant software and by the Fall of 1999 all non-compliant computer
hardware will have been replaced.
The Village has also been in contact with representatives of Commonwealth
Edison, Nicor and Ameritech who have
advised that all of their systems are currently Y2K compliant and utility
customers are not expected to experience
any loss of services as a result of Y2K issues.
During an inventory of countrywide systems, the Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency
telephone systems (which at the time it
was initially installed in the early 1990's was a "state of the art"
system) was discovered to be non Y2K compliant.
During the Summer of 1999 a "new" Enhanced 9-1-1 system was installed
which included computer aided
dispatching services for all the County's public safety answering points.
Although Y2K offers challenges for both the public and private sectors,
we believe that "the best defense is a sound
defense" and as such we are confident that through the preceding outlined
approaches, Mokena's transition into the
next millennium will be disruption free. However, should Mokena Residents
encounter any Y2K problems affiliated
with the Village's mission critical or core administrative services,
Village Officials will be prepared to provide
emergency support through ESDA, the Police, Public Works and Administrative
staffs.
If you are the victim of a disaster, you will find it important for you
and your family to begin the process of recovery as soon as possible:
* Board up broken windows and holes in the walls or roof.
* Clean and dry furniture and carpeting as soon as possible.
* Notify your insurance agent. Follow your agent's directions for filing a claim.
* Don't be rushed into signing repair contracts.
Be sure you deal only with reputable contractors.
Check with the
Community Development Department to find out if a contractor is licensed
with the Village of Mokena. Consult with
your insurance agent before you sign anything. If you suspect that
you are the victim of an unscrupulous contractor,
notify the Police Department.
* Keep all receipts for living expenses, temporary repair costs, and
clean-up costs so you can seek insurance
reimbursements.
In some cases, individual recovery assistance may be made available
from the State or Federal governments, as
well as a number of private relief organizations. In addition, there
will be many questions that you may have. Village
officials will provide additional information to address your concerns
during the recovery period. Information may be
disseminated through radio, television, newspapers, and printed notices.
One or more disaster assistance centers
may also be established to help make it easier to obtain information
and help.
If you would like more information about what to do before during,
and after a disaster, please feel free to call or write us:
Village of Mokena
Emergency Services & Disaster Agency
11004 Carpenter Street Mokena, Il. 60448
Administration: (708) 479-3922
For additional information on fire safety, contact your appropriate fire protection district:
Mokena Fire Protection District
19853 South Wolf Road
Mokena, Il. 60448
Administration: (708) 479-5371
Frankfort Fire Protection
District
333 West Nebraska Street
Frankfort, Il. 60423
Administration: (815)
469-1700
New Lenox Fire Protection District
201 Church Street Post Office Box 226
New Lenox, Il. 60451
Administration: (815) 485-7121