Downs Emergency Management Agency

01/31/2022

10/11/2021

TORNADO WATCH until 9:00 pm- Pay attention for further information

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 521 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 28 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

CHRISTIAN DE WITT LOGAN MACON MARSHALL MASON MCLEAN MENARD PEORIA SANGAMON SHELBY STARK TAZEWELL WOODFORD

IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS

CHAMPAIGN CLARK COLES CUMBERLAND DOUGLAS EDGAR
MOULTRIE PIATT VERMILION

IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS

EFFINGHAM

IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS

CASS FULTON KNOX MORGAN

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BEARDSTOWN, BLOOMINGTON, CANTON, CHAMPAIGN, CHARLESTON, CLINTON, DANVILLE, DECATUR, EFFINGHAM, EUREKA, GALESBURG, GREENUP, HAVANA, JACKSONVILLE, LACON, LINCOLN, MARSHALL, MATTOON, MONTICELLO, NORMAL, PARIS, PEKIN, PEORIA, PETERSBURG, SHELBYVILLE, SPRINGFIELD, SULLIVAN, TAYLORVILLE, TOULON, TUSCOLA, AND URBANA.

07/27/2021

A Disaster Loan Outreach Center, located at 201 E Grove St. Bloomington, will be opened for residents affected by the flooding June 25-27. Those needing in-person assistance can find help with applications at the Center starting at noon on Wednesday, July 28th. The Center will remain open through August 12th. Please see the attached release for specific dates and times.

**Date Update - Saturday, July 31st, NOT Saturday, August 7th

07/24/2021

3:40 pm Update:

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 10 pm for portions of central and northeast Illinois, from around Peoria and Bloomington northeastward. Storms developing in northern Illinois are expected to drop southward, with the main impacts in central Illinois between 6 pm and 10 pm. Damaging winds are the primary concern, although isolated large hail is also possible. If you have outdoor plans this evening, make sure you have a way to monitor the weather, and get to safe shelter as the storms approach.

The storms are expected to be approaching a Jacksonville to Danville line late this evening, in a weakening state.

07/16/2021

We have numerous reports of flooded roads al over plz drive safe and stay alert.

07/05/2021

Monday 7:00 pm update, this post has had 43 shares and reached over 10,000 people and I only have one team for tomorrow. Please help your community.


Help Needed!

EMA is having trouble finding volunteers for damage assessment teams tomorrow. Door to door assessment is the most accurate way to see and report the extent of damage that the June 25-27 storms caused in our county. A couple volunteers are needed to stay in our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to assist with calls and phone reports so if you can't do a lot of walking there is still a way to help.

All assessors are trained before being directed to specific areas or addresses. Tomorrows assessment teams will stay within Bloomington and Normal.

Volunteers need to be 18 or older and should wear closed toed shoes and long pants. A hat, water bottle, sunscreen, and insect repellent are also suggested.

Individuals will need to report to the Law & Justice Building at 8:00 am on Tuesday to begin training. The city garages resume charging tomorrow so parking in 2 hr on-street spots or the Pepsi Ice Center Garage (2nd floor or higher) are suggested as we cannot reimburse for parking. Please enter through the sheriff's office on the west side of the building, you will be directed to EMA from there.

All teams will return to EMA for a lunch (provided) break, turning in morning assessments, and replenishing supplies as needed. The day will end with returning by 4:00 pm and then a short debriefing to go over areas of concern.

If you can assist please email [email protected] today; we would like to send out as many teams as we can field so want to make sure we have enough supplies available and ready.

Please help us help our community.

07/02/2021

If you didn’t see us today plz go to the website and fill out the form it is very critical to the county to get the resources we need to help citizens effected by the flooding.

07/02/2021

We will be out doing Damage Assessments today going door to door.

07/02/2021

We will begin damage assessment door to door tomorrow. Volunteers will have identification and will be wearing safety vests. All damage assessment crews will carry proper identification, and residents should always take steps to protect their personal information.

People are encouraged to self report using:
https://tinyurl.com/4kyxyunh.

This assessment does NOT affect any insurance claim and does not substitute you contacting your insurance carrier. The information collected is used to determine if McLean County is eligible for federal disaster assistance. If you have difficulty filling out this form or have additional questions please contact [email protected] or 309-888-5020

07/01/2021