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Mayor Declares State Of Emergency In Park Forest


Mayor John Ostenburg
Mayor John Ostenburg. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Mayor John Ostenburg reports that at the recommendation of Park Forest emergency personnel, the following emergency proclamation has been issued for the Village of Park Forest:

Upon the authority of Chapter 20, Act 3305, Section 11 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, I, John Ostenburg, Mayor, upon the recommendation of the Park Forest Office of Emergency Management do hereby proclaim that a State of Emergency exists, in Park Forest, for the following reasons:

Severe winter weather storm that created blizzard conditions in the entire Park Forest area. This storm has caused heavy accumulation of snow, white out conditions with blowing and drifting snow. These conditions have caused streets to be impassable and impeded emergency services performing vital rescue responses. Emergency response mode has been implemented by all emergency services agencies within Park Forest.

Departments and agencies, charged with response and recovery activities under the Village Disaster Plan, are hereby directed to respond without haste, in accordance with the plan, to bring said emergency  to a rapid conclusion for the best interest of the residents of Park Forest, Illinois, pursuant to the Illinois Emergency Management act of 1992.

In accordance with the provision of Section 11, this proclamation shall be in effect when signed, and shall expire at midnight seven days from the date shown, unless extended by a resolution of the Park Forest Village Board.

Proclaimed this 1st day of February, 2011.

John A. Ostenburg
Mayor

The mayor also reports the following:

  1. ComEd has informed the Village of Park Forest that approximately 70,000 outages were reported overnight throughout the Chicagoland area. However, NO outages had been reported for Park Forest residences or businesses as of 5 a.m. today.
  2. Park Forest emergency personnel have reported that they were able to respond to ambulance and other emergency calls overnight despite weather conditions. One person was transported to a local hospital in the midst of the storm. During the most severe of conditions, a snowplow was assigned to clear the way for emergency vehicles to reach residents in need.
  3. While snowfall is expected to begin declining at about noon today (Wednesday), weather predictions are for blowing and drifting to continue. As such, residents again are urged to remain indoors at their residences except in cases of the most extreme emergency.
  4. Residents are urged to restrict show-shoveling and other similar strenuous activities in order to guard their personal health against adverse conditions.
  5. Park Forest Village Hall is open for business should residents need services offered by Village Hall staff.
  6. REMINDER: Warming stations are located at the Park Forest Police Department, 200 Lakewood Boulevard, 24-hours-per-day; and at Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  7. Power outages or other issues related to electric service should reported to ComEd at 1-800-334-7661.

Staff report that there are three water main breaks in the Village. Public works is currently waiting for JULIE to do location work. One resident volunteered use of snow mobiles, but staff have not yet tapped that resource.

Village Hall is open. Staff are available to take payments and answer phones.

Please continue to exercise extreme caution during this time of emergency.


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