Warm Weekend Onset of Storm Season

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The City of Du Quoin Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA) is announcing that the week of March 1 - 7 is 2009 Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois.

"Severe weather not only includes tornadoes and thunderstorms, but also flooding, and it is those threats that the public should educate themselves on and prepare for," said ESDA Coordinator Chuck Genesio. Genesio further reminds the community that two of the best tools to have are an emergency plan and an emergency kit. "Having a plan at home, school or work will help you know what to do when severe weather occurs and an emergency kit will also help immediately following severe weather or any other type of emergency," Genesio added.

The severe weather threats of tornadoes, thunderstorms and flooding all effect the citizens of Illinois. It is also important to note that flooding is the number one severe weather killer in the United States.

For severe weather preparedness information contact ESDA through the City Clerk's Office at (618) 542-3841 or by downloading the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's severe weather preparedness guide at http://www.state.il.us/iema/disaster/pdf/severeweatherpreparedness.pdf.