As students of all ages return to school this month, reviewing your emergency preparedness and safety plans is an excellent opportunity.
When reviewing your plans, address with your children where to go for shelter during severe weather and who to communicate with during an emergency.
Here are some tips from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to better prepare for the 2023-2024 school year:
- Explain the basics of weather preparedness for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, fire evacuation, flash flooding, etc.
- Make a family communication plan.
- Fill out a backpack emergency card for your student's backpack and your wallet.
- Learn more about school plans for disaster or emergency reunification.
- Encourage young students to take emergency drills seriously and ask questions to help them remember what to do.
- Encourage any college student to make a disaster preparedness kit.
- Speak to college students about ensuring they are signed up for weather alerts and opt-in alert warning services at college.
- Download and discuss the free Safe2Help Illinois helpline and app.