Winter Weather Wrap
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation Tuesday for the entire state ahead of the severe winter storm that has blanketed the state with life-threatening wind chills.
“This storm poses a serious threat to the well-being of people around the state and we will use every tool at our disposal to keep our residents safe,” said Pritzker. “This disaster proclamation ensures the State of Illinois has the flexibility to effectively and efficiently respond to the needs of local government during this extreme weather event.”
A state disaster declaration makes available a wide variety of state resources that can help affected communities respond and recover from the winter storm. Earlier in the week, the governor activated the State Emergency Operation Center to support local government as they began to plan for the extreme weather.
With the extreme temperatures and dangerous wind chills, the Illinois Department of Public Health indicates frostbite could set in on exposed skin within 10 to 15 minutes.
The dangerous cold has caused area schools and a number of offices and businesses to close for the day. That includes all of the Carmi-White County Schools, Grayville, Norris City Omaha Enfield, as well as the Wayne County Schools
