Critical State Services Continue; Illinois National Guard Activated to Join Other State Emergency Responders

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by key state emergency officials to provide a comprehensive update on the state's response to the historic winter storm and freeze. As all critical and emergency state services continue, the Governor has also activated the Illinois National Guard to help emergency crews across the state provide assistance during the bitter cold and dangerous weather conditions, which have included a hazardous combination of black ice and snow drifts.

Since last week, the state has deployed nearly 3,700 employees and 1,755 trucks from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) statewide to address the winter weather on state routes, and 200 staff and 182 snow plows from the Illinois Tollway. The Tollway has doubled the number of Zero Weather Road Patrols to assist customers stranded in their cars during the severe weather. Additionally, Conservation Police Officers in snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and four-wheel-drive trucks are assisting stranded motorists throughout the state and helping find missing persons.

"The state of Illinois has mobilized all resources to keep residents safe while continuing to provide critical state services," Governor Quinn said. "We are facing a dangerous combination of low temperatures, black ice and snow drifts."

"I want to recognize the heroism of our state's first-responders and emergency personnel who have been working throughout the night and day to rescue motorists and provide critical services and assistance in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable," the Governor said.

Update

The Governor has been monitoring weather conditions hour by hour and has directed the state's agencies to take a number of steps in response to the heavy snow and severe cold gripping Illinois.

Yesterday, the Governor activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield to coordinate the state's response to the storm. Representatives from critical safety agencies are staffing 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 activates the state's emergency operations plan and allowed him to activate the Illinois National Guard to help state and local emergency responders with an increasing volume of calls for assistance. As conditions continued to worsen, the Governor implemented the State's Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government Plans earlier this morning to ensure continued delivery of critical state response services during the severe winter weather conditions while protecting the state's workforce.

The Governor has also opened the state's more than 100 warming centers, including Illinois Department of Human Services 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, call (800) 843-6154 or visit keepwarm.illinois.gov.

Heroic Emergency Responders

Stories of heroism by rescuers continue to emerge as emergency responders work around the clock to assist those impacted by the extreme weather.

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.

"The men and women of the Illinois National Guard are again demonstrating their commitment to the safety and security of Illinois citizens," Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, said. "We train extensively throughout the year to be ready and on the scene to help our neighbors at a moment's notice.  Within two hours of activation, our Soldiers navigated dangerous road conditions in sub-zero temperatures to rescue stranded motorists."

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.

State officials are advising people to stay safe and take the proper precautions during this weather emergency.

"With the freezing temperatures, black ice is a major concern," Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider said. "Black ice forms on roads that appear clear and the unseen ice can be treacherous. We encourage motorists, if they must travel, to take it slow when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges and shady areas - all are prone to black ice. Motorists should use extreme caution, buckle up, avoid distractions and check www.gettingaroundillinois.com for the latest winter road conditions and road closures."

"If you must drive in these dangerous conditions, be sure to stock your vehicle with emergency supplies, such as bottled water, snack foods, a flashlight, blankets, extra warm clothing, gloves, boots and other winter weather items," Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Jonathon Monken said. "You need to be ready to stay safe and warm if you are stranded along the road for several hours, which is a very real possibility during the current weather conditions."

"Facing such extreme conditions, the Tollway is urging its customers to avoid driving if at all possible," Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur said. "For those who must travel, we are asking that you take proper precautions for dangerously cold temperatures and allow extra time for your trips."

The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal caution residents about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is produced whenever fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned.  If appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can result. Symptoms may resemble winter flu or food poisoning, particularly in children, and include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and lethargy. Higher levels of exposure can cause fainting, marked confusion and collapse. If exposure continues, death can result. If your carbon monoxide detector alarm sounds, call 911 and leave the area immediately. Affected individuals should be led to fresh air.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time; do not burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented; do not use gasoline-powered engines in your house, garage or other enclosed spaces; and do not use a charcoal grill, camping stove or Sterno-type fuel for cooking indoors, even in a fireplace.

The Department of Public Health also reminds people to reduce the chance of frostbite or hypothermia by staying dry and wearing several layers of lightweight clothing; covering your head; wearing mittens rather than fingered gloves; wearing warm leg coverings and heavy socks or two pairs of lightweight socks; and covering your ears and lower face.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture encourages pet-owners to keep their pets indoors or ensure they have a warm shelter area with unfrozen food and water. To protect people's pets, they also encourage everyone to use pet-friendly salt when clearing sidewalks and driveways.

More information about Winter Storm Preparedness is available from Ready.Illinois.gov.

Quad Cities, USA: Warming Centers will be open to any community resident needing a place to keep warm while the Quad Cities experiences these extremely low temperatures. The two warming center locations include :

In Illinois: Heritage Temple Corps, 2200 - 5th Avenue, Moline, IL 9am-4pm

In Iowa: Family Service Center, 301 W. 6th Street, Davenport, IA 10am-7pm

Coffee and snacks will be made available.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (01/06/2014)(readMedia)-- Two Illinois National Guard Soldiers were ordered to state active duty and another 13 Soldiers were put on stand-by shortly after midnight Jan. 6 to help clear stranded vehicles from Illinois' snow-covered highways.

Sgt. Brent Adkins of Mattoon with the 766th Engineer Battalion in Decatur and Sgt. Benjamin Greist of Mattoon assigned to Company B, 634th Brigade Support Battalion in Champaign, both Oshkosh HEMTT wrecker operators, assisted the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police to pull three civilian vehicles and five semi tractor-trailers out of the snow and line of traffic between 2:30 and 7:30 a.m.

Adkins and Greist removed these stranded vehicles along the intersection of Interstate 57 and Interstate 70, which allowed an estimated 200 additional vehicles, which waited for the roads to be cleared for up to 9 hours, to continue to their destination.

Another four HEMTT wreckers and crew based in Springfield are on stand-by. Two Illinois National Guard helicopters with pilots and crew stood ready and remain on stand-by in the event aerial search and rescue is necessary.

All 15 Guardsmen are expected to return to normal duty later today. For more information contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs office at 217-761-3569.

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(AMES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today announced the continuation of Iowa's state government payments partnership with Dwolla, the Internet's first payment network. Today's announcement allows carrier customers of the Iowa Department of Transportation to use Dwolla when filing and paying International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) returns and International Registration Plan (IRP) fees. As the only online payment option for the nearly 55,000 annual transactions, the new partnership provides the state and its tax payers a streamlined online process and turnaround time, an alternative to costly card payments and mailed checks, and a reduction in clerical errors and administrative costs

The State of Iowa announced its first partnership with Dwolla in early 2013. It allowed retailers to pay more than $100 million in cigarette stamp taxes through the Iowa Department of Revenue. In July 2013, nearly a dozen Iowa counties began accepting the low-cost payment network for their individual vehicle registration and property taxes.

"Reducing the size and cost of government must also mean a more innovative, business and taxpayer friendly government," said Branstad. "The State of Iowa has seen success in our partnership with Dwolla and the Department of Revenue. Expanding our partnership to the Department of Transportation will help our citizens and modernize the way government does business."

Click here to learn more about Iowa state's 2013 government payments partnership with Dwolla.

"Dwolla's simple payment network brings an effective, innovative means of payment for Iowa taxpayers, while providing increased government efficiency," said Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds. "We're excited about the state's expanded use of Dwolla and are continuing to explore new ways to use the payment network."

Iowa DOT Director Paul Trombino III, said, "Nearly 7,000 motor carriers in Iowa have been able to complete IFTA and IRP paperwork online for several years, but they have not been able to complete the payment portion of the transaction online until now. That was causing many of them to continue to file paper returns, which have a greater opportunity for errors. We think using Dwolla will reduce the number of errors and streamline the filing process for these transactions."

The ability to complete the entire transaction online has many benefits to both Iowa's motor carrier customers and the Iowa DOT.  Mark Lowe, director of the Iowa DOT's Motor Vehicle Division, said, "Because motor carriers had to print the document and send us a check anyway, many of them did not take advantage of the online system. By making it easier and more cost effective to pay fees and taxes, we are reducing the cost of the transaction, both for the customer and the state, and effectively increase the revenue collected."

The online service completes several complicated calculations automatically, drastically reducing errors that can hold up the documents from being accepted. Receiving the documents online will help the DOT process the returns much more quickly and efficiently.  Lowe added, "Dwolla' brings the whole thing together by offering carriers an online payment option that is inexpensive and avoids credit card processing fees, which can be significant for large transactions. I think this is the first of many opportunities that the Iowa DOT will explore using Dwolla."

Click here to learn more about Dwolla and government payments.

Dwolla is a new payment network that bypasses traditional credit and debit card networks, providing online and mobile payments. The benefits of using Dwolla include :

• Cheaper than sending a check. Dwolla is only 25 cents per transaction or free for transactions $10 or less. There are no hidden costs or licensing fees for its members or integrations.
• Many uses. Individuals, businesses, and nonprofits use the online service and its mobile app everyday to send money, buy goods, pay invoices, collect payments, and make donations.
• Security. By simply eliminating the visibility and circulation of this sensitive data between the members of the network, Dwolla removes a significant source of fraud risk.
• Simple. Simply sign into your existing account at checkout, enter your PIN, and initiate a payment.

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Dwolla allows anything connected to the Internet to move money as quickly, safely, and at the lowest cost possible. Powered by an accessible web-based platform and its "free or 25 cent flat-fee" per transaction pricing model, the software uses the Internet to securely link mobile phones, computers, social communities, and even physical locations to create a safe network that bypasses traditional card and check systems. This allows friends, families, businesses, even governments to easily send and receive digital payments with one another, like cash, but with easy to use websites, apps, and tools and without the fees and constraints of traditional debit and credit cards.

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