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In the ongoing effort to support our local, county, and state partners, IEMA will provide information and specifics to coordinate current information:
 

  • Presidential Disaster Declaration for Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago Counties in Illinois for severe weather in July 2024
  • Presidential Disaster Declaration for St. Clair County in Illinois for flooding for 2022
  • Presidential Disaster Declaration for Cook County in Illinois for severe weather in June/July 2023
  • The State of Illinois Disaster Proclamation for the Asylum Seekers in Illinois

Tornadoes

Before a Tornado

  • Tornadoes can occur in urban areas, such as Chicago. 

  • Review your Family Emergency Plan with your family so everyone knows what they should do.

  • Stock your Emergency Kit fully and make sure your family knows where it is. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days (72 hours).

  • Establish a safe zone in your home and place of work (preferably in the basement or in a small interior room or hallway). Make sure everyone knows where to go for shelter.

  • Have a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio (a special radio that provides around-the-clock weather information) or an AM/FM radio in your house that everyone knows how to use. Make sure your radio is battery-operable and you have a fresh supply of batteries on hand.

  • Monitor weather forecasts before you go on a trip or spend an extended period of time outdoors.
  • View the tornado factsheet English | Arabic | Chinese | Polish | Spanish | Tagalog

 

Signs of a Tornado

Tornadoes vary greatly in their appearance and can occur with little or no warning. It is important to know the signs that a tornado could be imminent.

  • A dark, often greenish sky.
  • A wall cloud, particularly if it is rotating.
  • Large hail, which is often produced by the same storms that produce tornadoes.
  • A loud roar, similar to the sound of a freight train.
  • Tornadoes may occur and be visible near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm.
  • Tornadoes may also be embedded in rain and not visible.

During a Tornado Watch

  • Listen to a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio or your local radio or television stations for updated information.
  • Be alert to rapidly-changing weather conditions. Watch for signs of a possible tornado.
  • Know where your family members are. Use this opportunity to review your Family Emergency Plan. Even if a tornado does not strike, there is still the likelihood of severe weather conditions.

Warning Sirens

Some communities have an outdoor Emergency Siren Warning System. This is a series of all-hazards, outdoor sirens in a community. Because of the unpredictability and sudden appearance of tornadoes, it may not be possible to provide advance warning; however, if you hear the warning siren, immediately seek shelter and tune in to a local radio or television station.

What Do the Sirens Mean?

Most systems use two siren tones. When they are activated, the sirens sound for a set amount of time as determined by your community.

  • Alert: A single tone signifying an emergency alert. This signal may be used for an emergency or disaster, including a severe storm, tornado warning (not a tornado watch), earthquake, chemical hazard/hazardous material incident, extreme winds, or biological hazard.

  • Attack: An up-and-down, rising and falling tone to signify there is a homeland security or attack emergency. This signal would be used if community officials were notified by federal and/or state government officials of an actual or impending attack on the local community.

  • All Clear: not used by all communities. Please tune in to your local news agencies and listen for notification from city officials regarding the emergency.

Siren Text

Communities perform a siren test on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m.

What Do the Siren Signals Sound Like?

Note: Audio files are produced in MP3 format. You will need to use a media player to play the files.

During a Tornado Warning

  • Listen to your battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio or a local radio or television station for updated information. If the electricity goes out, you will still be able to receive emergency information on a battery-operated device.

  • If you're at home, go to your pre-identified safe zone to protect yourself from glass and other flying objects. If possible, seek shelter under a piece of large, sturdy furniture, such as a large table or workbench, to protect yourself from falling debris or flying objects. Stay away from windows. Do NOT open them.

  • If you're not in your home, seek shelter in the basement or an interior room of a nearby, sturdy building. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately. If no shelter is available, lie flat in a low spot with your arms and hands protecting your head. Contrary to popular belief, seeking shelter underneath a highway or railroad overpass does not provide any measurable safety.

  • Remain in your safe zone or shelter until the storm has passed. Stay alert for new storms that may follow.

After a Tornado

  • Debris will be strewn about after a tornado. Be aware of the hazards in your area
  • After a tornado, familiar buildings or neighborhood signs may not look the same
  • With debris on the roadway, traveling / driving could be limited
  • Heed all warnings and messages from your local public safety agencies
  • Critical information will be distributed via EAS, NOAA Weather Radios, and your verified local/county public safety social media accounts
  • During cleanup, wear thick soled shoes, long sleeve shirts, and long pants
  • Cleaning up after a tornado is labor intensive. Make sure you can physically participate in this activity
  • Do not touch downed wires
  • In lieu of calling, consider text messaging friends/family during an emergency
  • Public utility companies need access to broken or down utility poles
  • In order to help expedite power restoration, do not block power company activities
  • Review your Family Emergency Plan and follow through with your Communications Plan. If all of your family members are not present, report to your family's pre-designated meeting point, unless emergency officials direct otherwise.
  • Check on your neighbors
  • Call 9-1-1 to report injured or trapped persons. Give first aid where appropriate, but do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger
  • Never enter any building with structural damage or hazards
  • Do not self-deploy to a disaster area. Your presence there will simply add to the confusion and may hamper emergency response efforts. A public message will be broadcast in the event that volunteers are needed.

For Additional Information