Preparedness

Receiving Emergency Alerts

Joliet has outdoor warning sirens placed in strategic locations throughout the city. Although the warning sirens can sometimes be heard indoors, they are meant for outdoor warnings only.

For indoor warnings, use a NOAA Weather Radio, a wireless emergency alert-capable cell phone, TV, or internet sources. No device is perfect, so having multiple ways of receiving alerts is a must.

Tornado Watch vs Tornado Warning

Tornado Watch: This means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to develop in the watch area. The watch area generally includes many counties (several thousand square miles) and lasts for several hours.

Tornado Warning: This means a tornado is occurring or imminent. The warned area is much smaller and only covers the immediate area affected by the storm.

Outdoor Warning Siren Activation Policy

The City of Joliet will activate the Outdoor Warning Sirens for the following criteria:

1. The City of Joliet is under a Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service.
2. Any part of the City of Joliet is within a Tornado Warning Polygon issued by the National Weather Service.
3. Sustained Winds greater than 65 MPH are being experienced.

Tornado Warning: A tornado has been reported or is highly likely to occur based on Doppler radar signatures.

Polygon: A specific location most likely to be affected by severe weather.

65MPH: This wind speed is on the lower side of an EF-0 tornado.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does it mean when I hear the outdoor warning sirens?
   The weather warning sirens activate when there is a reported funnel cloud or tornado reported in your area. This can be from the National Weather Service or a trained weather spotter.
2. What should I do if I hear the outdoor warning sirens?
   When the sirens are heard, go indoors and tune to local media to get more information.
3. Why can’t I hear the outdoor warning sirens in my house?
   The sirens are an outdoor warning system designed to alert those who are outside.
4. When are the outdoor warning sirens tested?
   The sirens are tested on the first Tuesday of each month at 10am unless there is a chance of severe weather in the area.
5. Why don’t the outdoor warning sirens sound an all-clear signal?
   Individuals should be indoors monitoring local media for updates on the storm.
6. How are the outdoor warning sirens activated?
   Upon issuance of a tornado warning from the National Weather Service, any siren located within the issued warning area will automatically activate. Sirens can also be manually activated at the Joliet Communications Center.
7. How can I get alerts when at work or in my house?
   For indoor alerts, every home and business should have a NOAA Weather Radio. A NOAA Weather Radio is like a smoke detector for severe weather, and it can wake you when a warning is issued for your area so you can take appropriate action.
8. More Questions?
   Contact the Joliet Emergency Management Agency at jolukancic@joliet.gov

Prepare a Go-Kit for All

In case of an emergency, you should prepare ahead of time. 

1. Get or Make a kit of emergency supplies.
2. Make a plan for what you will do in an emergency.
3. Be Informed about what might happen.
4. Get Involved in preparing your community.

Go-Kit Checklist(PDF, 3MB)

Prepare a Go-Kit for your Pets

Be sure to Remember Your Pets in case of an emergency.

1. Get or Make a kit of pet emergency supplies.
2. Make a plan for what you will do in an emergency.
3. Be Prepared for what might happen.

Go-Kit for Pets Checklist(PDF, 3MB)

A NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day. Known as the "voice of the National Weather Service," NOAA Weather Radio is provided as a public service by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA Weather Radio Information(PDF, 421KB)

Get your entire family involved in the emergency planning process. Discuss why you need to prepare for disaster and the types of disasters most likely to occur to your home and in our geographic region. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team. Disaster preparedness planning be educational, fun, and lifesaving.

Communicate

Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen and what to do in each type of situation. Also determine how you will communicate with one another in the event of a disaster.

Prepare an Emergency Contact List(PDF, 3MB)

Learn

• Tune into local TV and radio stations following alert messages from the Emergency Alert System. Follow instructions from emergency management officials.
• Learn about your community's disaster warning signals, what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them. Siren tests occur on the first Tuesday of the month.
• Familiarize yourself with your city and county's emergency action plan.
• Ensure that your mobile device is able to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

Designate a Meeting Place

Pick two places to meet and make sure everyone knows the addresses and phone numbers:

• Immediately outside your home in case of a sudden emergency like a fire.
• Outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home.

Determine Evacuation Routes

Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Determine the best two escape routes out of your home, neighborhood, from your children's school, day care center, your workplace or anywhere your family members spend time.

• Guide for Youth & Schools Emergency Preparedness(PDF, 1MB)
• Guide for Private Sector Emergency Preparedness(PDF, 890KB)

Know Emergency Phone Numbers - Including Your Out-of-State Contact

• Ask an out of state friend to be your family contact. After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's phone number.
• Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone and make copies for each member of the family to carry with them.
• Teach your children how and when to call 9-1-1.

Prepare an Emergency Contact List(PDF, 556KB)

Build or Purchase a Disaster Kit

Put together your own Go-Kit(PDF, 3MB) or purchase a disaster kit. Either way, your disaster kit should contain essential supplies to see you through a minimum of three days. It should be checked and updated every six months.

Get Trained

Learn Basic First Aid, CPR and other safety training. Someone's life may depend on it.

Senior and Special Need Planning

Older adults, senior parents or people with disabilities may have special needs that need to be considered in your disaster plan.

• Set up a buddy system to check on one another in the event of an emergency or arrange for someone to check on you.
• If you have home health care service, plan ahead with your agency for emergency procedures.
• Teach those who may need to assist you in an emergency how to operate necessary equipment.

Guide for Individuals with Disabilities & Others with Access and Functional Needs(PDF, 835KB)

Remember Pets

If you are like millions of pet owners nationwide, your pet is an important part of you household. The likelihood that you and your animals will survive an emergency or disaster, such as a fire, flood, tornado, or terrorist attack, will depend on how well you plan in advance. If you must evacuate your home, take your pets with you if possible. Here are a few things to consider.

1. Be sure to have pet carriers for all your pets. If you need to go to a shelter, they may not be accepted without one.
2. Are all your pets wearing collars and ID tags with their name? If not, be sure to include information on the carrier with your name, and several emergency telephone numbers.
3. Include a photo of your pet on the carrier as well. If they escape and become lost, you or the shelter will have a better chance of finding them.
4. Do you have a friend or family member who would let you stay in the home with your pets if you had to leave? Are there pet-friendly motels nearby? Know where your local emergency animal shelter is located.
5. Carry your veterinarian's telephone number on your list of emergency numbers in case your pet becomes ill.
6. Prepare a Go-Kit for your pets(PDF, 3MB).

Visit the Humane Society, for more information about protecting your pets and animals.

Because of health regulations, many shelters do not allow pets. Prepare now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home.

Other Disaster Recovery Plan Considerations

• Make sure you or someone in your family knows how to turn off your utilities such as electricity, water and gas.
• Confirm that you have adequate disaster insurance coverage.
• Ensure the frame of you house is bolted to the foundation.
• Conduct a home hazard hunt to minimize damage to your home and to people who may be inside your home during a disaster.

Practice and Review

Practice your evacuation plan twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassible or gridlocked. You should review your disaster plan periodically to make sure information is updated.

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN. SKYWARN is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Having trained weather spotters in the community assists us and the National Weather Service by providing real time information on severe weather in our area. 

The National Weather Service offers a free online spotter program. To sign up visit their website.

Please send us a copy of your certificate to EmergencyManagement@joliet.gov

Individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs may be more vulnerable to the impacts of a disaster. By being prepared for emergencies, individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs can maintain their independence increase and increase personal resiliency.

This Individuals with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide(PDF, 835KB) is designed to help individuals with disabilities and those that work with individuals with disabilities prepare for emergencies.

This Youth and Schools Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide(PDF, 1MB) is designed to help equip institutions working with youth, educators, and schools of all sizes with the information they need to increase emergency preparedness and a safer learning environment. The guide presents strategies and approaches for addressing various disasters that might impact institutions that work with youth. Additionally, the guide includes links to resources, such as teaching materials, campaign templates, videos, multimedia elements, games and other resources.

This Private Sector Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide(PDF, 890KB) is designed to help businesses (large and small), non-profits, faith-based organizations and other non-governmental entities prepare for emergencies. Everyone in the community has a role to play in an emergency. By preparing for emergencies, organizations can reduce the loss of lives, equipment, and assets when an incident happens, making the whole community more resilient.