While every household should have a disaster preparedness kit stocked with survival necessities such as food, water, flashlights and batteries, homes with pets and livestock need to take an extra step when planning for disasters. Whether an emergency forces people to seek shelter within the home or evacuate, advanced planning can ensure pet and livestock safety and make the situation much less stressful.

Throughout August, the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency and Franklin County Animal Control will be working to increase awareness of pet and livestock preparedness.

Click Here To Read The Media Release of Monday, August 16, 2010

More Animal and Pet Preparedness Information

With the incessant heat we have been experiencing lately, FCEMA urges residents to check out the Keep Cool Illinois Web Site where you can learn about how to beat the heat of summer in Illinois, how to stay safe during the season for outdoor recreation, and how to tap resources that help you keep yourself and you homes and businesses cool, and to do so efficiently and cleanly. There are also various links on the website but on of the most important for many citizens may be the link to cooling centers that are located throughout our community.

Click HERE to be taken to the Keep Cool Illinois Web Site

Warm weather is finally here and people throughout Illinois are taking advantage of the balmy temperatures to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities. But warm weather often brings with it thunderstorms and dangerous lightning that can be deadly. In fact, in the U.S., an average of 58 people are killed and more than 1,000 people are injured by lightning each year.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD 2010 Lightning Safety Guide

Franklin County Emergency Management Agency is excited about the newest addition to FCEMA.COM called NIXLE. On the lower left corner of each page of this web site, you will notice this button which gives you direct access to nixle.

Nixle is a free service that allows you to receive trusted, up-to-the-minute, neighborhood information for where you live, work, visit – or for where your family and friends are located throughout the country. This service will provide information which is updated from the County's Emergency Operations Center during times of emergency. Those interested are strongly encouraged to click on any of these buttons or visit www.nixle.com for more information.