IEMA Mobilizes Team to Support Union, Alexander County

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has mobilized a Joint Quick Reactionary Task Force in Alexander County to assist with emergency flood fight operations in communities along the Mississippi River. This Task Force will be stationed in East Cape Girardeau 24/7 and will be able to support evacuations, if needed, in the region. IEMA currently has task forces established in Hardin, Jerseyville, Valmeyer and now East Cape Girardeau. 

“Even though the river has crest in the East Cape Girardeau area, until the water recedes we must remain vigilant due to the intense pressure the river is applying to our overly saturated levees,” said Acting IMEA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “We have tremendous partners in the area that are available to assist the local governments with everything they need from treating sand boils on levees to coordinating welfare checks in the hardest hit communities.” 

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and county emergency managers continue to stress the importance of formalizing a family evacuation plan. Flood events have the potential to not only impact homes, but also the roads that are used to access work, the doctor and grocery store. Additionally, because families may not be together when an evacuation order comes in, having a family communications plan can ensure all family members have the essential information and knows where to meet up post-evacuation. 

The State Emergency Operation Center in Springfield has been mobilized since mid-March to assist local communities battling flooding along the Illinois, Mississippi rivers and its tributaries. A State Unified Area Command, or SUAC, also remains activated in Winchester (Scott County) to coordinate assistance with the response efforts in the affected regions throughout the state. 

For more information related to the current flood event and flood safety, visit the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov​.