Storm Safety Tips for Cook County Residents

Thunderstorms are rolling through Cook County. With them comes the threat of flooding. Cook County’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management offers the following tips to keep residents safe:

Flooding

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
• A foot of water will float many vehicles.
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including SUVs and pick-ups.
• Do not attempt to drive through a flooded road. The depth of water is not always obvious. The road bed may be washed out under the water and you could be stranded or trapped.
• Do not drive around a barricade, as they are there for your protection. Turn around and go the other way.
• Do not try to take short cuts. They may be blocked. Stick to designated evacuation routes.
• Be especially cautious driving at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If flood waters rise around your vehicle, abandon it and move to higher ground, if you can do so safely.

Lightning:

• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you – immediately move to safe shelter.
• Stay off corded phones, computers and other equipment that puts you in direct contact with electricity.
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets.
• Stay away from windows and off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.
• If you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby – get off elevated areas such as hills or ridges, do not lie flat on the ground, never shelter under an isolated tree and stay away from bodies of open water.
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity like barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.

For more information, media may contact Natalia Derevyanny at natalia.derevyanny@cookcountyil.gov or 312.603.8286.

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The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management integrates first responders, their departments and resources from 134 Cook County municipalities, and serves as the central agency in Cook County for coordinating efforts to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from all incidents, whether man-made or natural. For more information, visit our website at www.cookcountyhomelandsecurity.org.