Heroic Rescue Stories Emerge; Thousands Worked Around the Clock to Keep Illinois Residents Safe During Winter Blast

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today thanked the emergency workers who provided around-the-clock assistance during this week's historic winter storm and freeze. Since last week, thousands of state employees worked tirelessly to clear Illinois roads, rescue stranded motorists and keep people safe. During the storm, many heroic rescue stories surfaced and the Governor thanked workers who made the state's effective storm response possible.

"When disaster strikes the heartland, Illinois' first responders are on the job to keep people safe," Governor Quinn said. "Illinois is a community of shared values. I want to recognize and thank our response and emergency personnel who have been working day and night to assist those in need during this remarkable storm."

"People across our state stepped up to help, from those driving the salt and plow trucks at all hours of the night to keep interstates safe to our neighbors who checked on their neighbors during extremely low temperatures," the Governor said. "This was an amazing effort during an amazing winter storm."

The Governor monitored weather conditions hour-by-hour and directed the state's agencies to take a number of steps in response to the heavy snow and severe cold gripping Illinois. On Sunday, the Governor activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield to coordinate the state's response to the storm. Representatives from critical safety agencies staffed the center 24 hours a day throughout the duration of the storm and dangerously low temperatures. As a dangerous combination of black ice and snow drifts developed overnight, Governor Quinn issued a statewide disaster declaration, which activated the state's emergency operations plan and allowed him to activate the Illinois National Guard to assist state and local emergency responders. As conditions continued to worsen, the Governor implemented the State's Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government Plans to ensure continued delivery of critical state response services during the severe winter weather conditions while protecting the state's workforce.

Several state agencies were at the forefront of the state's storm response, and individual stories of heroism emerged during the days they protected and served the citizens of Illinois.

Department of Transportation

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) had 1,755 trucks assigned to snow duty across the state, and nearly 3,700 full-time and part-time employees available to help ensure roads were clear and passable. Statewide, IDOT and Tollway crews dispersed more than of 70,000 tons of salt on Illinois roadways during the weather emergency.

IDOT cleared the way for an ambulance that was transporting a woman experiencing a difficult child birth in Stark County. The Stark County Sheriff's Department contacted IDOT and informed them that there was a woman having a difficult labor in Wyoming, Ill., and the ambulance needed a snowplow to try to escort them to the hospital in Kewanee. The IDOT snow shift foreman from the Stark County maintenance yard in Wyoming informed responders that the best route for the ambulance would be to take Route 17 to Route 78, arriving at the hospital in Kewanee. IDOT Districts 2 and 4 then worked to get the needed snow plows to the area so the ambulance would have a clear path. The baby boy, Subal Patel - 6 pounds 7 ounces and 22 inches long - arrived shortly after the ambulance reached the hospital in Kewanee. Mother Parul Patel, proud father Chad Patel, and little Subal are all doing fine.

Tollway

The Illinois Tollway deployed its full fleet of 182 snowplows and called in more than 400 employees to keep its 286 miles of roadway clear. The Tollway deployed 11 H.E.L.P.  trucks and 22 Zero Weather Road Patrols operating around the clock during the extreme cold that followed the snowfall. Tollway employees and Illinois State Police District 15 provided emergency assistance to 1,099 customers across the system. The *999 Cellular Express Line System handled 1,869 calls from customers during the snowstorm and extreme freeze.

In addition to salt, the Tollway used 1,293 tons of roadway abrasives and sprayed 1,900 gallons of liquid Calcium Chloride. There were 275 accidents reported on the Tollway system during the severe weather. At the storm's peak, the Central Dispatch Center was handling more than 75 incidents simultaneously involving both Illinois State Police District 15 and Tollway maintenance crews.

Ed Robinson, a Tollway H.E.L.P. truck operator on the Tri-State Tollway in Lake County stopped Tuesday night to help two customers whose car broke down as they were driving to O'Hare Airport, leaving them without heat in the extreme cold.  After arranging to have the vehicle towed to an auto repair shop, they learned the car could not be repaired that night because the shop was busy and getting ready to close, leaving them stranded. After learning about the new trouble, Robinson met the couple on his own time after his shift ended and installed an alternator in the car so they could complete their trip to O'Hare safely. Afterward, he told his supervisor that he wanted to help the couple and ensure their safety, and hoped that someone would do the same for his kids.

State Police

Statewide, from Sunday to Tuesday, the Illinois State Police responded to more than 6,000 thousands of incidents including 3,932 motorist assists, 792 crashes and 534 traffic stops. All available personnel, including SWAT team members and Crime Scene Services, worked to make the roads safer and respond to emergencies.

The ISP organized a multi-agency "Rescue Task Force" in Livingston County late Sunday night when several motorists became stranded on Route 116 and road conditions prevented emergency responders from reaching them. At about 10 p.m. Cecilia Zroegaert and Steven Zroegaert became stuck in a ditch three miles west of Saunemin. Several other motorists were also stuck on Route 116 due to heavy snow and white-out conditions. State Police District 6 was notified of the stranded motorists and quickly deployed the "Rescue Task Force" that included two Department of Transportation snow plows, two tow trucks, and a State Police SWAT operator driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Starting from Pontiac and led by a District 6 Sergeant in a patrol car, the task force had to clear more than nine miles of Route 116 in order to reach the stranded motorists.

Temperatures continued to drop and progress was slow as the rescue team encountered large snow drifts rapidly accumulating from the high winds. At about 11 p.m. the rescue team reached a section of highway covered by snow drifts more than six feet tall that prevented the plows and emergency equipment from moving any further. The Saunemin Fire Department's attempt to rescue the motorists from the opposite direction on Route 116 was blocked by abandoned vehicles left on the highway.

State Police Sergeant Tim Sweeney and Trooper David Diller worked diligently to find a local resource to assist. About 11:30 p.m. they located a citizen from Saunemin, Matthew Harms, who set out to rescue the motorists using his snowmobile. By this time the Zroegaerts' vehicle was low on fuel and no longer able to provide heat; the rescuers told the Zroegaerts by cell phone to honk their horn every few minutes to help Harms locate them. Harms finally located the Zroegaerts shortly after midnight and drove them to safety. Harms then checked every stranded vehicle in the area to ensure no others needed assistance.

The rescue task force was finally able to clear Route 116 to Saunemin at about 1:30 a.m. Monday.

Department of Natural Resources

A total of 58 Conservation Police Officers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) equipped with four-wheel-drive vehicles and eight snowmobiles, performed 500 public assists, including motorist assistance, welfare checks and relays during the winter weather emergency.

Conservation Police Officer Robert Wellum carried a five gallon can of gasoline on foot nearly one mile in 20 degrees below zero wind chills to a family in Clark County whose emergency generator had run out of fuel. On Monday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. a 911 call was made by a family of four, including two small children, stranded in their home in rural Clark County. They had run out of gas to power their generator and the home was without power and heat. Officer Wellum went to nearby gas station to fill up a five gallon gas can using his own money, then drove as close as possible to the home, but snow drifts had made roads impassable. Wellum got out of his truck and walked one mile to the family's home while carrying the can of gas, and he arrived just in time - the temperature in the home was at 52 degrees and rapidly dropping.

Conservation Police Officer Trent Reeves rescued seven people and two pets that were trapped by snow drifts along Route 47 north of Mahomet. Emergency vehicles could not reach the people, so Officer Reeves traveled by snowmobile and on foot to rescue the stranded individuals and deliver them to nearby emergency vehicles. All of those rescued, including the pets, are fine. Officer Jim Mayes assisted with the rescue, and himself used his truck to rescue six individuals who were stranded on Interstate 74 in east central Illinois.

National Guard

More than 30 Illinois Army National Guard mechanics were activated to support the winter storm efforts by assisting IDOT with truck repair and maintenance of winter storm equipment degraded by the events over the last week. On Jan. 6 Governor Quinn activated two soldiers and a heavy-duty military wrecker to help  IDOT and State Police pull three civilian vehicles and five semi tractor-trailers out of the snow and line of traffic.

Personnel from the Illinois National Guard field maintenance shop in Mattoon coordinated with Illinois State Police troopers and Illinois Department of Transportation snow plow crews to assist motorists in approximately 375 vehicles backed up on I-70 and I-57 north of Effingham Sunday evening. The backup was the result of several vehicles and semi-trucks that were stuck in snow drifts, making it impossible for snow plows to clear the route for the cars to proceed. Illinois National Guard personnel used a wrecker to pull the stranded vehicles and trucks from the road, which allowed IDOT crews to clear the road and rescue hundreds of passengers.

National Guard soldiers were also on hand to ensure that IDOT vehicles were fully operational and capable of handling the intense cold and snow which could affect all vehicles on Illinois roads.

"The snow storm and extreme temperatures has an effect on vehicles and personnel, and the man-power we have is not able to keep up with repairs," James McKay, an engineer technician with IDOT Emergency Traffic Patrol (ETP) in Chicago, said of conditions before the National Guard arrived. "With the over whelming amount or repairs our maintenance division has right now, help is definitely needed. You are coming to our rescue, you're putting our fleet back into operating condition, and we are very thankful."

"The Soldiers are great. They showed up early, had their A-game on, and were ready to work," Joseph Lonero, an equipment expeditor with IDOT ETP in Chicago, said. "We have over 100 vehicles district wide that need repairs, we will keep them busy and we are thankful for the help."

Department of Human Services

During the storm, the Governor opened and encouraged residents to find shelter in the state's more than 100 warming centers, including Illinois Department of Human Services offices throughout the state, and the seven Illinois Tollway Oases. Hundreds of individuals took advantage of the warming centers over the course of the storm.

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Reminds Residents to Stay Safe and to Check on Their Neighbors

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced measures that will continue to be taken by Illinois state agencies in response to the ongoing extreme winter weather affecting more than 90 percent of the state. He also urged residents to stay safe and warm and to check on their neighbors during the bitter cold and snowy weather.

"This winter storm will be one for the record books, and we want to make sure everyone stays safe and warm until it passes," Governor Quinn said. "State crews continue working around the clock to keep residents safe and to respond to any emergency situations that may occur. I urge everyone to keep close tabs on their neighbors and families, stay inside as much as possible, limit their exposure to the cold temperatures, dress in layers and keep pets indoors."

The National Weather Service forecasts historically cold temperatures throughout Illinois following the heavy snow that has blanketed much of the state. High winds will drive wind chills to 35 to 45 degrees below zero through Tuesday. Because of the record-setting cold, Governor Quinn urges residents to take advantage of the state's more than 100 warming centers, including Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) offices throughout the state, which are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or the Illinois Tollway Oases, which are open 24 hours a day. To find a warming center near you, call the IDHS hotline at (800) 843-6154 or visit keepwarm.illinois.gov.

Heavy and drifting snow has made travel extremely hazardous throughout the state. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has nearly 3,700 employees and 1,755 trucks deployed statewide to address the winter weather on state routes, while the Illinois Tollway has 200 staff and 182 snow plows on duty in response to the weather. The Tollway has also doubled the number of Zero Weather Road Patrols it provides to assist customers stranded in their cars during the severe weather. The Zero Weather Road Patrols will continue into Wednesday, January 8, or until the temperature or wind chill rises above zero. Motorists are urged to only travel if absolutely necessary and to give road crews plenty of room, keep their gas tanks at least two-thirds full, and have a complete emergency kit in their vehicles. For roadside assistance anywhere in Illinois, call *999.

Road condition information is available by calling 1-800-452-IDOT (4368), Illinois Tollway information by calling 1-800-TOLL-FYI or online at www.gettingaroundillinois.com and click on the "winter road conditions" icon.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is in close contact with local emergency management agencies and prepared to provide assistance if needed. They advise residents to stay home and off the roads if at all possible due to the extremely dangerous cold and snowy conditions. IEMA also advises every household to have a disaster preparedness kit that will help residents stay safe for at least three days. The kits should include a battery-powered NOAA weather radio; a flashlight; extra batteries; non-perishable food; water; a first-aid kit; extra medications; and special items needed for babies, disabled or elderly family members and pets. If you must travel, a vehicle preparedness kit should include a cell phone and charger, flashlight, extra batteries, first-aid kit, snack foods and water, blankets, extra warm clothing, gloves and hats, sand or kitty litter, shovel, windshield scraper, booster cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, and a tool kit.

To reduce the chance of frostbite or hypothermia if you must venture outdoors, the Illinois Department of Public Health advises residents to stay dry and wear several layers of lightweight clothing; cover your head; wear mittens rather than fingered gloves; wear warm leg coverings and heavy socks or two pairs of lightweight socks; and cover your ears and lower face. Residents should seek immediate medical attention for any severe weather related health issues.

The Illinois Department on Aging encourages relatives and friends to make daily visits or calls to senior citizens living alone. Senior citizens should dress in layers, both indoors and outdoors, make sure they got plenty to eat and drink, have extra medications in the house and let someone else shovel the snow.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture advises residents to keep their pets indoors or ensure they have a warm shelter area with unfrozen food and water. Check frequently on any animal that remains outside.

Joins Residents of Washington as Year Comes to a Close; Signs Legislation to Aid Communities Recovering From Natural Disasters

WASHINGTON - As 2013 draws to a close, Governor Pat Quinn today visited the tornado-ravaged community of Washington to encourage residents to take advantage of the federal aid available for those impacted by the deadly storms on November 17. The Governor also signed legislation that is part of his commitment to ensuring the state does everything necessary to help families and communities across Illinois as they rebuild and recover from the historic natural disasters that have struck Illinois this year.

"As Illinois heads into a new year, many of our neighbors in Central and Southern Illinois are continuing to rebuild their lives after deadly tornadoes ravaged their communities," Governor Quinn said. "Federal assistance is an important part of our recovery efforts and I urge everyone who suffered damage or loss to make sure they register for federal aid."

Governor Quinn successfully secured federal aid for 15 counties just nine days after a record 25 tornadoes caused widespread destruction across the state. The federal disaster declaration includes Champaign, Douglas, Fayette, Grundy, Jasper, LaSalle, Massac, Pope, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, Will and Woodford counties.

To date, more than 2,000 people in those counties have applied for assistance, with more than $1.6 million in federal grants and more than $5.6 million in low-interest loans already approved.

Anyone affected by the Nov. 17 tornadoes and severe storms is encouraged to register for federal assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the assistance program, has a toll-free telephone number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) (for hearing and speech impaired) to apply for assistance. Registration also can be done online at disasterassistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. The deadline to register for federal disaster aid is Jan. 27, 2014.

In addition to FEMA grants, disaster survivors may be eligible for low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which were also made available under the federal disaster declaration.

The Governor today also signed Senate Bill 1955, which transfers $5.9 million to meet the state's cost-sharing obligations with FEMA for federal funds provided in response to the historic flooding that impacted counties across the state this spring. These funds represent the state's contribution to federal aid which has provided access to Individual Assistance grants that help affected people replace personal property lost or damaged during the disaster. The bill was sponsored by State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) and passed both chambers of the General Assembly unanimously. It takes effect immediately.

"We need to be there for people when emergencies and disasters occur. This law means resources are available to help people get back on their feet in their time of need," Senator Kotowski said.

The Governor also recently signed House Bill 2778, which will allow more advanced life-saving equipment to be carried and used in emergency vehicles in rural areas where such services may be otherwise difficult to obtain. The new law allows the license of an ambulance operated in a rural area to be upgraded to reflect that of the staff member with the highest Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) rating. Sponsored by State Representative Don Moffitt (R-Galesburg) and State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), the law passed both houses of the General Assembly unanimously and took effect immediately.

State Support Enables Creation and Preservation of Quality Housing, Creates Jobs Across State

CHICAGO - Governor Quinn today announced that the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) provided more than $471 million in financing this year to make 5,000 quality affordable rental homes available to working families, seniors and people with disabilities. Since Governor Quinn took office, IHDA has provided $2.2 billion in financing to build or preserve more than 19,600 affordable apartments in 131 communities across the state, generating an estimated 20,280 jobs. Today's announcement is part of the Governor's agenda to ensure quality affordable housing for people in-need across Illinois.

"Affordable housing is important to the fabric of our communities," Governor Quinn said. "That is why are working tirelessly to increase affordable housing options for working families, seniors and people with disabilities throughout Illinois, which also creates thousands of jobs and drives our economy forward."

Creating and preserving affordable rental housing works as an economic engine to generate construction and post-construction jobs and spur local economic activity.  Affordable housing financed through the state in 2013 is estimated to create 3,200 construction and post-construction jobs.

Just in time for the holidays, Rhonda Pruitt and her twin 3-year-old sons recently moved into a three-bedroom townhome in the new construction 20-unit Greenleaf Manor development in Glenview. A clergy member at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wilmette, Pruitt and her family were staying with family members but wanted to find a permanent stable and secure home of their own.

"For much of my boys' lives, they have lived somewhere else," Pruitt said. "Now, when they say to me, 'Can we go home now?' - I'm able to say, 'Yes, we're going home.'"

As the state's housing finance agency, IHDA provided federal Housing Credits that generated private equity totaling nearly 90 percent of the cost to develop Greenleaf Manor. Developed by Chicago-based Daveri Development Group, Greenleaf Manor features two-, three- and four-bedroom townhome apartments for families earning no more than 60 percent of the area median income, or $39,780 in the Chicago area for a three-person household.

The need for affordable housing is nationwide. In 1960, about one in four renters were cost burdened, or paid more than 30 percent of their income for housing. Today, one in two are cost burdened, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

"Renters represent nearly one-third of households in Illinois, and approximately 425,000 are extremely low-income," IHDA Executive Director Mary R. Kenney said. "Governor Quinn's administration is focused on working together with our federal, local and private partners to create and sustain affordable housing statewide to meet the needs of Illinois residents."

To qualify for the affordable units financed through the state, residents must earn at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), or $36,300 in the Springfield area, $36,000 in Peoria area or $37,380 in Metro East for a three-person household.

A list of developments offering affordable rents is available at www.ihda.org or www.ilhousingsearch.org.