Press Releases
Year
Champaign County EMA Urges Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2025
Contact
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
(217) 531-2925 /
John Dwyer, Coordinator / CCEMA
(217) 384-3826 /
Champaign County EMA Urges Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather
Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois is March 3-7
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) urges residents to prepare for severe weather. Following 142 tornadoes in 2024, Illinois now ranks third in the United States for tornadoes per square mile, behind Mississippi and Alabama. Nearly 20% of all tornadoes in Illinois occur at night, including an EF-3 tornado near Robinson on March 31, 2024.
While we cannot prevent severe thunderstorms, lightning, or tornadoes, we can take steps to minimize their impact on our lives and families. The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends the following precautions:
STAY INFORMED
Do not rely solely on outdoor storm sirens, as they are not designed to be heard indoors by everyone. Instead, stay updated using multiple sources, including:
- Weather alert radios
- Local radio and TV broadcasts
- NWS websites
- Smartphone apps such as FEMA and Red Cross (ensure emergency alerts are enabled)
- Wireless emergency alerts on smartphones
HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN
Create an emergency plan for your home, workplace, school, and travel. Identify safe shelter locations for severe weather, including tornadoes. Choose two meeting places in case you are separated from family or coworkers. If traveling, know the names of the counties and cities you visit.
PREPARE YOUR HOME AND YOURSELF
- Learn how to use a fire extinguisher, administer CPR, and shut off electricity, gas, and water in your home.
- Inspect your home for hazards, such as weakened trees, cracked windows, and worn roofing.
- Reinforce roofs, upper floors, and garages when constructing or renovating to minimize wind damage.
HAVE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT
Severe weather can cause power outages lasting several days. Your kit should include:
| Bottled water | Medications and a first aid kit |
| Non-perishable food | Personal hygiene items |
| Flashlights and extra batteries | Pet supplies |
| Extra clothing and blankets | A weather alert radio or portable AM/FM radio |
| A spare set of keys and cash |
SIREN PROTOCOLS FOR THE CHAMPAIGN-URBANA METRO AREA
Champaign County EMA has updated its siren activation protocol for the Cities of Champaign and Urbana, the University of Illinois, and the Village of Savoy. Sirens will activate for severe thunderstorms if the warning includes the term “destructive.” This designation was used for the June 29, 2023, storms. A destructive damage threat is defined as having hail at least 2.75 inches in diameter (baseball-sized) and winds of 80 mph or higher.
Warnings with this tag will automatically trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on smartphones in the affected area.
Other county municipalities that have updated their siren protocols include Fisher, Tolono, Sidney, and Pesotum.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have developed a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide covering tornadoes, severe storms, lightning, and flooding. This guide is available on the Ready Illinois website: www.Ready.Illinois.gov.
For additional severe weather safety information, visit:
NWS Lincoln: https://www.weather.gov/ilx/
Ready Illinois Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReadyIllinois
Ready Illinois on X: x.com/ReadyIllinois
Champaign County EMA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Champaign
EMA Champaign County EMA on X: x.com/ChampCoEMA
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Public Safety Alert: Fraudulent Public Health Official Reported in Champaign County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2025
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-2925 /
Public Safety Alert: Fraudulent Public Health Official Reported in Champaign County
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges Residents to Immediately Report Suspicious Activity
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is alerting residents about a male individual falsely claiming to represent public health while going door-to-door in Champaign County. Both CUPHD and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) have confirmed that they do not have any staff currently conducting door-to-door visits.
Residents are urged to stay cautious. If someone unexpectedly comes to your door claiming to be from public health, do not let them in and immediately call 9-1-1 to report the incident.
Public health officials want to ensure the safety of the community and remind residents that official health representatives will always provide proper identification and will not conduct unannounced home visits.
For any concerns or to verify public health outreach efforts, please contact CUPHD at 217-352-7961 or visit www.c-uphd.org.
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Download 2025-01-30-Fraudulent-CUPHD-official-PR
Download 2025-01-30-Fraudulent-CUPHD-official-es-PR - Spanish
Free Dental Exams and Cleanings for Children on Saturday, February 1, at Parkland College
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2025
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-2925 /
Free Dental Exams and Cleanings for Children on Saturday, February 1, at Parkland College
The Illini District Dental Society, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, and Parkland College Dental Hygiene Clinic Participate in Give Kids A Smile® Day
Champaign, IL – The Illini District Dental Society will sponsor Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS) Day on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Parkland College Dental Hygiene Clinic located at 2400 W. Bradley in Champaign. The event is part of the Children’s Dental Access Program through the American Dental Association® (ADA), which provides free oral healthcare services to children of low-income families.
On February 1, local dentists and hygienists are taking the opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering time and services for GKAS. Free dental exams, cleanings, and fluoride treatments will be provided as needed to any child aged one to 17. The oral health fair will also offer a wide range of educational activities including dental hygiene education, free toothbrushes, and visits and pictures with the Tooth Fairy. No appointment is necessary; however, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child. There are no income or residency requirements to receive services at the fair.
The Give Kids a Smile® (GKAS) program, launched nationally in 2003 by the American Dental Association, provides underserved children with free oral health care. Each year approximately 6,500 dentists and 30,000 dental team members volunteer at local GKAS events to provide free oral health education, screenings, preventive and restorative treatment to over 300,000 children across the United States.
Give Kids A Smile® Day is sponsored by the Illini District Dental Society in partnership with the Parkland College Dental Hygiene program and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. Individuals interested in this special event can contact the Parkland College Dental Hygiene Program Director, Laura Hettinger, at (217) 351-2386 or
For more information on Give Kids A Smile®, visit https://www.adafoundation.org/give-kids- a-smile.
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Download flyer - English - Spanish - French
Download 2025-01-22-gkas-day-PR