(Courtesy: National Weather Service - Chicago/Romeoville

This week, November 15 through 21, is Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois and Indiana. Take time to prepare your family for a cold weather emergency at home or on the road. Throughout the winter months, helpful information will be available from federal, state and local agencies, disaster relief organizations and public safety organizations. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency urges you to use this information to develop a family protection plan for a safe winter.

If the need arises because of storms this winter, shelters throughout Illinois will open for your protection. Andrew Velasquez III, Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and his staff say you can help by creating a family protection plan. Have a store of food and drinking water, a battery-powered portable radio for receiving emergency information, a first aid kit, and most importantly, a plan for warmth and safety. For more information contact your local emergency management agency or visit www.state.il.us/iema